April 24, 2007
OKLAHOMA CITY - INTEGRIS Health is committed to improving the health of the communities we serve. We are proud to announce that we are partnering with Operation Nehemiah and asking African American churches throughout the state of Oklahoma to develop a plan of action to reduce the health disparities in the African American community. We are asking all churches across the state to participate in a major African American Health Summit with a goal of finding workable solutions to the health disparities problem.
Health disparities (also called health inequalities) refer to gaps in the quality of health and health care across racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups. The Health Resources and Services Administration defines health disparities as “population-specific differences in the presence of disease, health outcomes, or access to health care.”
In the United States, health disparities are well documented in minority populations. When compared to whites, minority groups have higher incidence of chronic disease, higher mortality, and poorer health outcomes. Among the disease-specific examples of racial and ethnic disparities in the United States is the cancer incidence rate among African Americans, which is 10 percent higher than among whites. In addition, adult African Americans and Latinos have approximately twice the risk as whites of developing diabetes. Minorities also have higher rates of cardiovascular disease, HIV/AIDS, and infant mortality than whites. There is debate about what causes health disparities between ethnic and racial groups. It is generally accepted that disparities can result from three main areas:
- From the personal, socioeconomic, and environmental characteristics of different ethnic and racial groups (such as how certain racial groups, on average, live in poorer areas with high incidents of lead-based paint, which can harm children);
- From the barriers certain racial and ethnic groups encounter when trying to enter into the health care delivery system; and
- From the quality of health care different ethnic and racial groups receive.
The actual summit will take place in November 2007, but this Thursday, April 26, INTEGRIS Health will host a luncheon with African American clergy to enlist their support.
Date: Thursday, April 26
Time: 12 Noon
Place: Crowne Plaza Hotel, 2945 N.W. Expressway
Please call 629-3204 if you are interested in covering this event, or learning more about the African American Health Summit.
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