Introduction

Over the past 20 years, it has become well-known that minorities in the United States have worse health outcomes for several major diseases, including, among others, heart disease, cancer, diabetes and HIV. This first came to the public's attention in 1985 with the release of a report on the issue by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and then again more recently as part of the President's Initiative on Race in 1998 where the goal was set to eliminate racial/ethnic disparities in health by the year 2010.

There are numerous causes for these disparities, many rooted in the nation's history of discrimination and segregation. Among the key factors mentioned by experts in the field are that minorities tend to have lower levels of income, lower levels of education, and less access to health care (because of lower levels of insurance) - all of which contribute to poorer health.

More recently, several national reports have determined that the health care system is not immune to this problem - and that even when minorities have the same level of income, education and insurance status as whites, they may receive lower quality care in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. Examples include minorities receiving fewer of the necessary tests and treatments for heart disease, diabetes, asthma and cancer. This obviously contributes to disparities in health as well. (Read IOM Report)

The MGH has long had a diversity effort currently chaired by MGH President, Peter L. Slavin, M.D., which focuses primarily on workplace diversity. In the fall of 2002, Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino convened boston Hospital CEOs to explore the role the hospitals were playing in eliminating disparities. Dr. Slavin not only agreed to participate in the citywide effort, but he also appointed a committee to examine and act upon disparities at the MGH. Dr. Slavin appointed Joseph R. Betancourt, M.D., M.P.H. senior scientist at the Institute of Health Policy and nationally recognized as an expert on disparities and cultural competence, and Joan Quinlan, M.P.A. director of the MGH Community Benefit Program, to co-chair this effort.

Mission

National literature tells us that disparities in access to and quality of care exist throughout the country. Local data indicates that this is also a major issue in Boston. The charge to the MGH Disparities Committee is to:

1. Identify key areas where racial disparities in health care may exist at the MGH;
2. Develop solutions to address disparities found here at the MGH;
3. Coordinate our efforts with the Mayor's city-wide initiative.

MGH Disparities Committee Membership