Breast Imaging and Health Equity: Bridging Gaps and Improving Outcomes (2024)-WEB09-2024-Breast-Imaging-and-Health-Equity-Webinar-Patel-Slides

WEB09-2024-Breast-Imaging-and-Health-Equity-Webinar-Patel-Slides

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Dr. Amy K. Patel highlights the critical need for addressing health disparities in breast cancer outcomes, emphasizing the importance of health equity in medicine. Despite advancements, racial disparities persist in cancer mortality, notably affecting Black U.S. residents who not only have higher cancer mortality rates but also face a greater likelihood of late diagnosis and treatment in lower-volume hospitals. Specifically, Black women have a lower incidence yet a 40% higher mortality risk for breast cancer than White women.<br /><br />Efforts to reduce these disparities are multi-pronged. They include community engagement and collaboration with healthcare stakeholders, advocacy for digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), and strategic partnerships with organizations like the Missouri Breast Cancer Consortium and the Kansas City Breast Health Equity Task Force. These initiatives aim to increase access to breast cancer screening and treatments, especially for underserved and minority communities.<br /><br />Several programs are instrumental in these efforts. The Show Me Healthy Women Program in Missouri provides free screenings to low-income, uninsured women, while federal and state policies like the PALS Screening Access Act and the Find It Early Act propose insurance coverage enhancements for necessary breast imaging services.<br /><br />Dr. Patel underscores a "village" approach, involving communities and healthcare systems to bridge the gap in health disparities. Strategies include leveraging community stakeholders, advancing integrated care systems, and focusing on public health education and outreach. By fostering these collaborative efforts, the goal is to create comprehensive care models that improve outcomes for vulnerable populations. This holistic approach not only promotes health equity but also aims to reduce mortality disparities in breast cancer among different racial groups.

Keywords

health disparities

breast cancer outcomes

health equity

racial disparities

Black U.S. residents

breast cancer screening

community engagement

digital breast tomosynthesis

Show Me Healthy Women Program

integrated care systems