Physician Leadership in Advancing Health Equity in America · 2020. 7. 9. · Patrice A. Harris, MD, MA Immediate Past President. American Medical Association Summer 2020. Physician

Patrice A. Harris, MD, MAImmediate Past President

American Medical Association

Summer 2020

Physician Leadership in Advancing Health Equity in America

© 2020 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

About me

• Born and raised in West Virginia; graduated from WVU undergrad and medical school

• Practicing psychiatrist in Atlanta, GA• Experience as a public health

administrator, patient advocate and medical society lobbyist

• Held leadership positions in the AMA and APA

• First African-American woman to serve as AMA president

• Chair, AMA Opioid Task Force since 2014


Understanding COVID-19

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What we know:• Transmission occurs primarily from person-to-

person in close contact.• Anyone can become infected. • Seniors are more vulnerable.• Many can have little to no symptoms.

What we’re learning about:• Impact on young children.• Correlation between COVID-19, blood clots,

and strokes.

© 2020 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.4

An ‘all-hands-on-deck’ moment

• As cases continue to surge in many states, AMA is urging the public to take responsibility by wearing masks when outside their homes.

• Simple steps the public can take to minimize its exposure risks:

o Wear masks in publico Wash hands regularlyo Maintain physical distancing of at

least six feet


• Provide up-to-date, evidence-based resources, research and clear guidance from a variety of trustworthy sources.

• Help physicians and practices recover from the disruption and damage of the pandemic

• Work at the highest levels to reduce obstacles to patient care

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AMA response to COVID-19

Visit AMA-assn.org


Lase Ajayi, MDMember since 2013

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Persistent health disparities and their impact on communities


• The evidence is clear—the Black and Brown communities have been hit very hard by COVID-19.

• Pandemic highlighting longstanding health inequitiesfor communities of color.

• AMA has urged HHS to make existing all race and ethnicity data available in order to take on this crisis.

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The unequal impact of COVID-19


A crisis of chronic disease in the U.S.

• Half of American adults have one or more chronic conditions.

• Heart disease, stroke and diabetes are among the top 10 leading causes of death and disability in the U.S.

• Chronic diseases may negatively affect health, quality of life, and productivity

Chronic disease90%

All other10%

$3 trillion annual U.S. health care spending

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Source: CDC


Impact of social determinants of health

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Why police brutality is a matter of public health

AMA policy recognizes that physical or verbal violence between law enforcement officers and the public, particularly among Black and Brown communities where these incidents are more prevalent and pervasive, is a critical determinant of health.

https://www.ama-assn.org/system/files/2019-04/a19-bot18.pdf


The Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences

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Source: CDC


Disparities and children’s mental health

• African American and Hispanic children and young adults less likely to visit a psychiatrist or any other mental health professional than whites.

• Mental health issues among minority youth often disproportionately result in punishment or incarceration rather than mental health care.

• While African Americans are less likely than non-Hispanic whites to die from suicide as teens, they are more likely to attempt suicide than white teens.

Sources: International Journal of Health Services; Mental Health America

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Photo: AMA Journal of Ethics


• COVID-19 is a crisis of public health, social isolation and economic recession.

• Children are experiencing disruption and feelings of loss as much as adults.

• Disruption intensifying anxiety in an era when teens are already experiencing stress at unhealthy levels.

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The impact of COVID-19 on children


Kevin McKinney, MDMember since 1989

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Advancing health equity


AMA’s commitment to non-discrimination• Two key principles of our Code of

Medical Ethics state: • We are to provide “competent

medical care, with compassion and respect for human dignity and rights.”

• We are to respect the law and also recognize our responsibility to seek changes when it is contrary to the best interest of patients.

• Non-discrimination, health equity and access to health care for all are key goals of our advocacy work.

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• The AMA recognizes that racism is an urgent threat to public health, the advancement of health equity, and a barrier to excellence in the delivery of medical care.

• The AMA opposes all forms of racism and denounces police brutality and all forms of racially-motivated violence.

• The AMA will actively work to dismantle racist and discriminatory policies and practices across all of health care.

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AMA Board pledges action on racism


AMA works to create greater health equity in America

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Policy Advocacy Tools

The AMA’s House of Delegates has adopted dozens of policies calling for: reducing racial and ethnic disparities in health care; increasing diversity in the medical profession; and eliminating bias among health professionals.

The AMA advocates for policies, such as expanded access to care for all, and for adequate funding of safety net programs.

The AMA creates tools such as the Health Disparities Toolkit, for physicians to use to implement better health literacy and culturally competent care in their own practices.


Improving heart health for Black women

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Partnerships to prevent heart disease

Learn more at TargetBP.org

More than 1,600 physician practices and health systems have so far joined the effort


Partnerships to prevent diabetes

2.3 million visits and 730k risk screenings for prediabetes and counting …

Take the test: DoIHavePrediabetes.org


AMA policy supports childhood development

• We support improvements to SNAP and other programs to promote adequate nutrient intake and reduce food insecurity and obesity. (H-150.937)

• We believe all forms of family and intimate partner violence are major public health issues and urge the profession to work with other parties to prevent it. (H-515.965)

• We recognize that suspected child abuse is underreported by physicians. (H-515.960)

• We recognize bullying as a complex and abusive behavior with potentially serious social and mental health consequences. (H-60.943)

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Fully integrating mental health

AMA policy:Supports parity of coverage for mental illness, alcoholism, substance use and eating disorders; (H-185.974)

Supports health care policies that ensure access to and payment for integrated medical, surgical, and psychiatric care regardless of the clinical setting; (H-345.983)

Supports increasing public awareness, reducing stigma and expanding patient access to quality care for depression and other mental illnesses; (H-345.984)

Encourages all physicians to acquire the knowledge and skills to recognize, diagnose and treat depression and other mental illnesses; (H-345.984)

Supports competent mental health care and outreach for at-risk communities; (H-345.984)

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Fewer than 12%of physicians are from underrepresented communities of color; though these communities make up more than 30% of

the population of the United States.

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Source: Association of American Medical Colleges


Nicole Plenty, MDMember since 2008

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Policy adopted in 2019:

AMA will work to establish best practices for the sustainability and success of health care “pathway programs”— designed to draw students from diverse backgrounds into the field of medicine.


AMA initiatives to increase diversity in medicine

• AMA Foundation – Minority Affairs Section scholarships for fourth-year medical students

• Doctors Back to School™ Program

• Through the courts: Fighting to uphold DACA

• Support for IMG

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Expanding the physician pipeline

• Establishing and building on a commitment to diversity

• Innovative approaches through AMA Accelerating Change in Medical Education initiative

• Improved med school curriculum and training – Health Systems Science

• Recognizing and addressing implicit bias in selection programs

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Documents

Physician Leadership in Advancing Health Equity in America · 2020. 7. 9. · Patrice A. Harris, MD, MA Immediate Past President. American Medical Association Summer 2020. Physician