January 23, 2014

There are many reasons some groups of people are less healthy than others, have shorter life spans or suffer from more chronic diseases. There are health disparities and the underlying causes are complex and interrelated. Here are just a few:

• Income. Studies have found that lower income people have increased risk for a number of health issues.
• Access. While the Affordable Care Act helps more people obtain care, some people still need to overcome the barrier of transportation to physicians or pharmacies.
• Race. Local studies have shown African-Americans on average don't live as long as whites, have less access to quality health care, and are more likely to suffer from diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity.
• Support Systems. Studies have shown that people with support systems which help ensure physicians' orders are followed are less likely to be readmitted to a hospital for the same condition as those without such systems-regardless of income, access or race.

What is being done?

Health systems, community organizations, and not-for-profits are working hard on this issue. For our part, we're identifying patients who are most at-risk, and educating caregivers, providers and patients. We're also being proactive.

• Mobile programs take prevention, screening and education on the road to meet people who aren't receiving necessary care.
• TriHealth Outreach Ministries delivers basic health services in parishes community-wide.
• We train community health program staff to identify key health indicators, help people with transportation to doctors' appointments, and find a routine place of care.
• Our Health Navigators make it easier for patients to get the care they need, and help ensure they actively follow doctors' orders.

Together with our community partners, these steps and others can reduce health disparities.

John Prout, president and CEO, publishes his A Healthy Perspective column monthly in the Cincinnati Business Courier.