Understanding Health Equity
What is health equity?
To better understand health equity, it is important to first define equality versus equity. Equality means each individual or group of people is given the same resources and opportunities. Equity acknowledges that each person has different circumstances and allocates the exact resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome for all.
Health equity is the state in which everyone has a fair and just opportunity to attain their highest level of health. Health equity is imperative to promote overall health for all. The CDC plainly states that, “persistent health disparities in our country are unacceptable and correctable,” and that health equity will be achieved, “when everyone has the opportunity to be as healthy as possible.”
The following are examples of health equity:
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Lower cost services provided to those with lower incomes.
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Telehealth appointments offered to those who do not have access to transportation.
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Evening appointments offered to those who work long hours which make it difficult to access care.
What is Extract Systems’ role in health equity?
Extract Systems drives health equity through software that promotes streamlined sharing of patient data even in cases when the data is sent via traditionally slower methods such as faxing.
There are many ways in which patient data can be shared. Some methods are instantaneous and direct, such as results being sent between electronic medical records (EMRs) via an interface. Other methods are less direct and can take longer for the patient data to reach its final destination, such as faxing results. The less direct methods often involve manual indexing processes, which can be slow and prone to errors. Extract’s software helps bridge the gap between the various transmission methods by streamlining the process to deliver and file patient data and documents into EMRs, which can ultimately help speed up patients getting the care they need. With Extract’s software, patients are not penalized for their data being shared via less direct methods when more efficient methods are not an option.
Sources:
https://onlinepublichealth.gwu.edu/resources/equity-vs-equality/
