Studies from the Institute of Medicine and the Nebraska Public Health Association show there are major differences in health outcomes depending on such factors as socio-economic status, race and ethnicity, geography (urban/rural), educational level and age.
On Oct. 23, the University of Nebraska Medical Center will present “Eliminating Health Disparities in Omaha: A Collaborative Approach.” The one-day working meeting will be from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. in the Scott Conference Center, 6450 Pine St.
Health-care providers, consumers, educators and policy-makers are invited to help assess current health disparities in Omaha and to develop strategies to eliminate these disparities. Six specific areas of health care and lifestyles will be addressed: personal accountability for health, maternal/infant health, behavioral and environmental determinants of health, health-care employment, community collaboration and research, and language and culture.
Guadalupe Pacheco, public health advisor and special assistant to the deputy assistant secretary for minority health with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will give the keynote speech on “The Role of Language & Culture in Health Disparity.”
Pacheco is responsible for managing multiple projects that focus on the bilingual/bicultural health issues of racial and ethnic minority communities. He also is responsible for coordination of cultural competency activities through the Office of Minority Health’s Center for Linguistic and Cultural Competence in Health Care.
During a panel discussion, individuals will examine disparities from such perspectives as the consumer, provider and administrator. The afternoon will consist of breakout/workgroup sessions to develop strategies to eliminate disparities.
There is no charge for attending the working meeting, but participants must pre-register by Sept. 29. Space is limited. For more information, call UNMC’s Community Partnership at 559-3595.