Diversity and Health Equity

00:05 So some additional key concepts.

00:08 You heard me mentioned diversity earlier.

00:10 What is diversity? It's all the ways that we differ from each other.

00:14 And it's the different characteristics that make us unique individuals.

00:18 So it's why I said, "Your first goal is to think about humans." I see a human being.

00:25 And when that human being is sick, I see a human being who's in a vulnerable state.

00:31 And then I need to think about all the characteristics that make that person, whoever they are.

00:36 Let's say, Angela. What makes Angela, Angela? When I say yes, you can mention race.

00:40 Angela is black. Angela is female. In addition to human first, right.

00:46 Angela is female.

00:47 Right now, Angela has XYZ symptoms, and what do I need to do to help Angela get to a state of optimal health? Well, when we think about that too, in terms of diversity, yes, our books teaches one thing, but in real life, what is optimal health to Angela? So I don't want to force my own beliefs even in terms of what optimal health is.

01:10 So personally, I'm a fixer.

01:12 And if someone comes in with a pain of 10, I want you to get out of here with the pain of zero, where the patient might want to get down to a five because that's manageable for them.

01:22 Why need to respect that? Right? So just having conversations, partnering, and thinking about individual human needs.

01:30 The next concept is equity.

01:33 So in general, what is equity? It's just a continuous process of assessing people's needs, correcting those historical inequities that brought us to the place where we are now that took away our ability to first see people initially.

01:47 Automatically see people as human.

01:50 So, how do we correct all those things? Through this work that we're talking about right now and being committed to and consistently doing the work.

01:59 Putting in the time and effort.

02:01 So that we do create those conditions for optimal outcomes for everybody in society regardless of these identity groups.

02:10 So health equity.

02:11 So that's very important in terms of what we're talking about as healthcare professionals.

02:16 But making resources available, and helping people regardless, including people from those populations we relegate to a certain space, right? Thinking about diverse populations.

02:28 And I'm gonna give another example here.

02:31 Let's just say a person is from an indigenous population, and they want to practice something traditional from their own culture.

02:39 Who am I to say they can't when it's not causing harm, right? So we definitely don't want to go around and impose again, our own values and belief systems on people.

02:51 So if someone says, "I need to do a chant before any procedure happens." And this is something I'm making up, hypothetically, just to say, though.

02:58 Even though you feel like, "what the heck is this?" Let it happen.

03:03 If that is a part of what helps people achieve optimal health.

03:07 Let it happen. Is it causing harm to anyone? That's usually what I focus on. Is it causing harm in any way? If it's not, then I do it.

03:15 Is it going to take me some extra time? So let's just say it well, right.

03:19 This person I just gave this hypothetical example of is hospitalized.

03:24 Well, I know that every time before I go in there to do a procedure, this ritual needs to happen.

03:29 So I need to prepare for that, right.

03:31 And so I will prioritize my patients based on what I know, I need to give extra time to this.

03:38 Let's say you can't do it.

03:40 Again, advocating.

03:41 Meaning I can go to someone on my team.

03:43 And, first, I want to ask the patient "Are you okay if I go and get, whoever it is, to come in here, because I'm going to be in this room for a very long time and I don't want to interrupt your care." And the time for, if it's praying. Whatever it is.

03:57 My whole point is that you just need to be able to accommodate people.

04:01 And then ensuring that there are fair and just opportunities for health.

04:06 So how do we get there? Removing those obstacles to health.

04:11 And we'll talk about that a lot throughout the series.

04:13 But how do we do that? Number one, again, acknowledging.

04:17 What are the causative factors? I talked about it already in terms of bias, induced, -isms, and -phobias.

04:24 That's a big one. And that is like broad.

04:27 So just think about anything that makes you judge someone.

04:31 And how can I change those things? How can I be a champion for all human beings, and we'll talk about that a lot more as the series progresses.

04:40 The main takeaway, I think, from this when we talk about -isms will be that these -isms and -phobias either lead to or perpetuate poverty, discrimination, and their consequences, including, I mentioned earlier powerlessness, and lack of access to good jobs with fair pay, lack of access to quality education, housing, safe environments, health care, and education is a key.

05:05 Because if I'm not educated sufficiently, then it affects every other part of my life.

05:11 Financially, in terms of my health and how I think about health.

05:15 So just think about how all those pieces work together to define the determinants of health? And what can your place be in terms of improving those determinants and meeting the goals?