About Health Equity
Disparate health outcomes for minorities, individuals experiencing homelessness, and other subsets of California’s population are the result of historic and systemic inequalities that persist today, and it has risen to the level of a public health crisis in California. Unequal access to health care and health resources, as well as unequal and damaging environmental conditions due to race, socioeconomic status, and other factors is untenable in a just and healthy society. Ensuring every Californian receives equitable, high-quality care requires long-term, systemic solutions. Some facts*:
Black Californians have the highest rates of new prostate, colorectal, and lung cancer cases, and the highest death rates for breast, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancer.
About one in five Latinx Californians report not having a usual source of care and difficulty finding a specialist.
Californians who are Native American and Alaska Native, as well as Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, are less likely to report having a checkup within the past year than other racial/ethnic groups.
*Source: California Health Care Foundation
California’s hospitals are on the front lines of mitigating health inequities. Within their communities, hospitals examine and address the social determinants of health — things like housing instability, access to healthy foods, and community violence — that significantly affect health risks and outcomes. And they continually work to improve the experience and outcomes for everyone in their care through a variety of initiatives, including a statewide maternal health quality collaborative; data collection and analysis on race, ethnicity, language preference, and other sociodemographic data; cultural competency training; increasing diversity in leadership and governance; and improving and strengthening community partnerships. But hospitals alone cannot eliminate health disparities. It will take systemic reform, paired with broad partnerships across all segments of California’s communities, to break from the status quo.
New Tech Helps Diagnose Lung Cancer Earlier
Robotic-assisted bronchoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure used to perform a biopsy on lung tissue when cancer is suspected.
Turning Heartbreak into a Resource
The Gillespie family established the Jayden T. Gillespie Foundation to reduce the stigma that often surrounds behavioral health disorders.
5 Things To Know: Public Safety Power Shutoffs, Medi-Cal Rx, Minority Fellowship Program, Patient Safety Evaluation Summit, Behavioral Health System
PUBLIC SAFETY POWER SHUTOFFS: San Diego Gas & Electric (SDGE) is conducting two public safety power shutoff (PSPS) exercises and welcomes the attendance and participation of external stakeholders:
PSPS Tabletop Exercise: April 11, 8 a.m.-noon
PSPS Full-Scale Exercise: May 1-2
If you are interested in participating, please complete the Extent of Play Agreement and email a PDF copy to EMTrainingExercise@sdge.com. If you are interested in scheduling a tour for your organization, please reach out to EmergencyServices_SDGE@sdge.com
5 Things To Know: HASD&IC Education Opportunity, Public Charge Final Rule, CDPH Leadership Updates, Telehealth Equity, Health Careers Grants
HASD&IC EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY: The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) will join HASD&IC for a webinar on Oct. 20 from 10 to 11 a.m. (PT) on the Hospital Presumptive Eligibility Program and the COVID-19 Uninsured Group Program. DHCS will provide an overview of both programs and share common mistakes made by providers that cause delays in benefits. There will be time for Q&A at the end of the presentation. Because we would like to give DHCS time to review your questions in advance and respond during the Q&A session, please submit your questions by Oct. 14. Advance registration is requested.
5 Things To Know: Workforce, Health Equity Webinars, Behavioral Health, Scholarship and Loan Repayment Programs
WORKFORCE: The San Diego Workforce Partnership recently launched the Healthcare Administration Pathways Program. This program will put participants with no health care experience (but preferable experience in hospitality or retail) through the UC San Diego (UCSD) Division of Extended Studies Revenue Cycle and Management Intensive Course at no cost to them. The partnership is working with UCSD, Rady’s Children’s Hospital, and Scripps Health to fill patient access representative I positions in hopes of diversifying the pipeline of workers. Participants who complete the course will also be eligible to sit for the certified revenue cycle specialist exam, which the workforce partnership will also fund. The San Diego Workforce Partnership is looking to expand partnerships with more hospitals in the region for this program.
Celebrating Efforts to Improve Care for Our Aging Population
At our board meeting earlier this month, we heard about the statewide health equity focus that will involve not just HASD&IC but also CHA, the Hospital Association of Southern California, and Hospital Council – Northern & Central California. This important work entails collaboration among the four associations and their member hospitals to ensure care is inclusive and equitable for all. It includes:
Medi-Cal Expansion Vital to Ensuring Healthy Communities
Access to health care is vital to a healthy society, and to ensure that those in our local communities can see a doctor when necessary, it’s imperative that they have coverage.
Turning the Spotlight on Equity in the Health Care System
This June, as we celebrate Pride Month, it’s a good reminder for everyone about the role that hospitals and health systems play in building inclusive and equitable communities for our LGBTQ+ neighbors.
5 Things To Know: EMS Week, Blood Bank Ribbon Cutting, New Website
RECOGNIZING EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES (EMS): This week (May 15-21) is the 47th annual National EMS Week, which was established by President Gerald Ford in 1974 to celebrate EMS practitioners and the important work they do in our nation’s communities. The week includes theme days, and throughout the week, San Diego County EMS will be driving to hospital sites to hand out goodies to EMS staff.
5 Things To Know: Medi-Cal Eligibility, National Hospital Week, Rural Floor Court Ruling
MEDI-CAL ELIGIBILITY FOR NEW UKRAINIAN ARRIVALS: The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has released a Medi-Cal Eligibility Division Information Letter to provide guidance to counties on the Medi-Cal eligibility of Ukrainian nationals arriving in California. It is anticipated that a significant number will resettle in California. The federal government has not provided any special benefit eligibility for this population, but has authorized the use of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ukrainian arrivals who qualify. Many of the Ukrainian arrivals may enter under TPS or as humanitarian parolees and may not be eligible for the traditional federal services offered to immigrants granted refugee status. However, they may qualify for state-funded programs, including state-funded full-scope Medi-Cal. The letter provides guidance on how to establish Medi-Cal eligibility for this population (based on current Medi-Cal policy) for state and federal Medi-Cal benefits. DHCS will work closely with the state Office of Refugee Health and stakeholders to ensure that new Ukrainian arrivals receive the Medi-Cal benefits to which they are entitled.