All around us, equality is part of the conversations our society is having, but equity is not used quite as often. Sure, everyone knows what equality means mathematically and what home equity means financially. I fear many have not ever considered their meanings further and how one concept is wholly tied to the other. Equality gives everyone the same treatment regardless of clear differences while equity seeks to create a level playing field to reach true equality.

Our healthcare system is not equal and definitely not equitable. It runs rampant with inherent bias against entire groups of people based on skin color, income status and even marital status.

Healthcare Bias

Our healthcare system does not operate on what is best for the community or even what is best for the patient. It works just like any other business: to generate capital. In that sense, the patients are simply the commodity up for grabs. If you were a business owner, you would be likely to place your business in a heavily populated area of people with moderate to high income status. Why would our healthcare facilities operate differently? If you didn’t detect the sarcasm- they do in fact operate exactly like any other business model.

Our healthcare system is one of the most sophisticated in the world and we spend roughly 17% of the national GDP on healthcare (9% more than the OECD average). That would lead you to believe that Americans would be healthy, but in truth the US is no where near the top of the list for any health outcome study.

With that in mind, it is easy to see there would be entire zip codes without proper healthcare options. If they lack basic healthcare options, they absolutely lack holistic or preventative wellness centers. Location is just one example of bias in our system. Currently, our healthcare has systematic biases against BIPOC, elderly people, disabled people, LGBTQ+ people and the list goes on! This disproportionate care for entire groups of people leads to poor health outcomes that our system then uses to skew research data which raises insurance premiums for those affected.

Healthcare Equity

Conceptually, health equity means making quality healthcare affordable and accessible to people who are systematically under served. There are many goals we, as providers, can work toward in order to see changes in this broken, biased system.

Placing healthcare and wellness facilities in reach of communities who have little to no care options. As healthcare providers and business owners we have to consider locations outside of the mostly white, suburban, middle class neighborhoods. Providers have to begin considering what part of the community around them is being under served. Rather than flooding markets with overpriced health and wellness, take your business to neighborhoods who do not have the service you provide.

Healthcare has to become patient centered in order to better the health of every community. As providers, if you do not believe in affordable, patient centered care for EVERYONE, you are just a businessman who speaks science! This system does not need more providers who push patients through to meet quotas. What it needs is more providers who care that everyone is expressing their health to their fullest ability. If you are a provider who sees patients as dollar signs, kindly step out of the way for providers who want the best for every patient in every healthcare facility.

Sliding scale payment options can and will make healthcare more affordable for everyone. All around us things are paid based on income; taxes, car notes, mortgages, even student loans. So why is our healthcare not?! It is absurd to think that everyone can afford to have health insurance and even more absurd to think that someone who does not have insurance can afford the astronomical amount an office may charge. Using sliding scales for patient billing can be the deciding factor for people who might have to choose if care is more important than electricity that month.

Trauma informed care is important for any provider. No provider can assess what horrors lurk in a patient's past at first glance. Not only could a patient have childhood trauma that has caused a lifetime of health woes, but they could also have had a poor experience with another care provider. Our healthcare system tells women their pains are invalid; tells black and brown people they are naturally more unhealthy; tells trans people that treatment is a choice the insurance company can make. People are being traumatized by the healthcare system leaving them hesitant to see a new provider. As providers, we have to consider this and proceed in a way that shows patients we have their best interest in mind.

Community outreach is crucial to building a line of equity. Just like equity with a bank, patients are trusting you to provide quality care for them. Providers have to begin building these lines of equity within their communities where patients know they can receive quality affordable care. If you are offering affordable care, many people will have an option they never have before. Through inclusive outreach programs with community support systems, providers who care to take this time could reach patients who may be in dire need. This is especially important to holistic and preventative care providers because far too many communities have zero access or information about these modes of care.

Nothing changes over night and our healthcare system is no exception. Creating equity for patients and communities that are being under served will eventually lead to healthcare equality. All people deserve accessible, affordable, quality care in the form that they choose!