How do you address healthcare gaps and disparities?

My work focuses specifically on the transgender and non-binary population. Clearly an underserved and often overlooked group of folks, yet their healthcare needs remain immense. From not being able to find affirming practitioners to being denied care, the disparities are alarming. This gap leads to create a delay in care which then leads to poor outcomes.

To tackle healthcare disparities, we must first understand them. In my experience, collecting relevant data on factors like race, income, and geography helps pinpoint the most pronounced gaps. This analysis forms the foundation upon which we build our strategies.

Eventhough I am a great believer in analysis and numbers. However from my experience treating the problem as data would only add insult to injury. In such problems I believe the subjective opinion of health care workers working on the ground is more valuable . As having standards and international benchmarks is good on paper, to present in conferences and get applauded. However we need to take actions in here and not just analyse.

To truly create impactful solutions, we need to immerse ourselves in the world of those we're serving. Walking in their shoes, seeing their challenges from their perspective – that's where real innovation takes root. I did this when starting Kinetik 6 years ago, sitting the back of broker offices and with TP's on their day-to-day. And will be doing it again as I move to California to see first hand how our product is launching.

I believe we have a current real-time data base that across most nations already and there are many high level organisations e.g. WHO comparing data at all levels and set benchmarks. We can put our focus more on analysing data instead.

Yes, stakeholder engagement is key to finding deeper issues and to some extent prevent creating another patient!. I have seen family members of cancer patients go through so much mental agony. One effective way I have seen with respect to terminal illness family members is workshops where they get to know that they are not alone and they learn from each other.

Engaging stakeholders isn't just about voicing concerns; it's about building a united front for change. Collaboration fuels growth, involving diverse voices is how we revolutionize healthcare and bridge those critical gaps.

stakeholder engagement is key, however clients are the most neglected yet they are the consumers of the services. In order to satisfy the current and future needs of the clients, they must be involved through feedback mechanism.

I think collaboration is essential. While working on a community health project, I learned that involving patients, healthcare providers, and policymakers in decision-making fosters a sense of ownership and leads to more effective solutions. Different perspectives enrich our understanding and guide our approach.

Depending on the time frame, this can take forever. You may want to explore options while seeking answers from the stakeholder

Tailored interventions make the difference. One time I worked with a low-income community where access to healthcare was a significant issue. We devised strategies aligned with our organizational mission, including community outreach and patient education. The result was increased healthcare access for that community.

The startup journey taught me that execution isn't just about one-time action; it's about weaving strategies into the DNA of your operations. Similarly, in healthcare, embedding strategies into the workflow creates a lasting impact. And just like startups pivot based on data, regular monitoring informs healthcare adjustments that drive real progress.

Success requires more than planning; it needs execution and monitoring. In my experience implementing new healthcare delivery models, ongoing evaluation was critical. Regular feedback from stakeholders and systematic tracking allowed us to adjust our strategies as needed, ensuring they hit the mark.

The process doesn't end with implementation. Learning from our successes and failures and sharing these insights can inspire and influence change across the healthcare system. I once documented our challenges and successes in addressing healthcare disparities and shared them at a conference. This added to the collective wisdom and sparked innovation in other healthcare organizations.

A critical element is the timeliness of analyzing the information coming from the monitoring, developing and modifying action plans, and getting the plans out to the implementing professionals. A large insurer was touting its local outreach and education programs until it was realized that its programs were employing several years-old data. In another instance, data from a geographically limited study was extrapolated to encompass the entire state efforts. Also, implementation efforts should incorporate strategies in practice uniformity or consistency among those charged with implementation. Too often, professional differences of opinion can create an almost contradictory message.