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Preserving Vision in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Focus on Health Equity
Elise V Mike1, Daniel Laroche2,3
1Medical Scientist Training Program, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.
Insights
The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated health disparities, particularly impacting Black and Hispanic communities due to pre-existing conditions. Addressing health inequities in ophthalmology requires diversifying leadership, expanding telemedicine, and advocating for insurance reform.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Ophthalmology
- Health Equity
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted healthcare systems globally.
- Disproportionate mortality rates observed in Black and Hispanic populations are linked to pre-existing health conditions.
- Health inequities are prevalent in ophthalmology, necessitating urgent attention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the impact of health inequities in ophthalmology exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- To propose immediate and longitudinal actions to mitigate health disparities in eye care.
- To advocate for healthcare reform that promotes health equity.
Main Methods:
- Review of pandemic-related health disparities.
- Analysis of pre-existing conditions contributing to disparities.
- Identification of strategies for improving health equity in ophthalmology.
Main Results:
- Black and Hispanic individuals face disproportionately higher mortality rates from COVID-19.
- Pre-existing conditions like hypertension, obesity, and asthma are significant contributing factors.
- Ophthalmology faces global health inequities that demand systemic solutions.
Conclusions:
- Immediate actions include diversifying ophthalmology leadership and industry, embracing telemedicine, and advocating for increased health insurance coverage.
- Longitudinal strategies involve recognizing and rejecting structural racism, addressing modifiable risk factors, enhancing cultural competency, promoting workforce diversity, and fostering global leadership.
Abstract:
The coronavirus 19 (COVID-19) pandemic has overwhelmed our healthcare systems and caused the deaths of tens of thousands of Americans. Black and Hispanic individuals comprise a disproportionate number of those deaths, primarily because of pre-existing health conditions such as hypertension, obesity, and asthma. Health inequities that underlie these disparities also exist within ophthalmology around the world, and more ophthalmologists should advocate for healthcare reform that advances health equity. Immediate actions to reduce health disparities in ophthalmology during the pandemic include taking time to ensure all ophthalmology leadership and industry is diversified with people reflecting the fabric of their countries, embracing telemedicine to increase access to medical care, and advocating for legislation that will increase health insurance coverage during this unprecedented time. Longitudinal actions include recognizing structural racism as a root cause of health inequity and actively rejecting it through addressing modifiable risk factors, increasing cultural competency training, promoting diversity in the workforce, and global leadership.
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