Patricia Maryland, Dr.PH, President, Healthcare Operations and Chief Operating Officer, Ascension Healthcare, has published a new op-ed regarding healthcare issues facing African-Americans. Her article, "Managing Pain and Opioid Addiction in the Black Community," published during September's Pain Awareness Month, asks, "How can we help patients treat and manage their pain while reducing the risk of addiction?"
"At Ascension, we're working to achieve equitable pain management across all minority groups ... we are working in concert with our patients to develop national, comprehensive guidelines to pain management – standards that embed healthcare equity with our understanding of patient history and cultural sensitivity," she says.
Pat points out that "African-Americans consistently receive less-adequate treatment for acute and chronic pain – even after controlling for age, gender and pain intensity," than their white counterparts, even though they are not at higher risk for pain-related conditions.
A lack of understanding about a patient's heritage or belief system may be one reason, she says. Access to basic medical services may be another. A third reason may be a lack of trust by some African-Americans, resulting in underreporting pain levels, which means inadequate pain management.
She encourages a continued commitment to pain management along the care continuum.
"Together, healthcare providers and the communities we serve can empower and support vulnerable patients along their pathway to relief," she says.
Read the full article here.
Ascension Leader Encourages Safe Pain Management for African-Americans
9/30/2016
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