Dr. Miguel Ruiz

And of course, when we are going to talk about closing the gap and about eliminating or decreasing disparities, what we want to do is to bring the lower group up to the standards and the outcomes of the upper group. or the more advantage group, not lowering that higher group into the lower.

And of course, when we are going to talk about closing the gap and about eliminating or decreasing disparities, what we want to do is to bring the lower group up to the standards and the outcomes of the upper group. or the more advantage group, not lowering that higher group into the lower.

And just a fact that I think hopefully will lead us to also talking into what we call social determinants of health is the fact that, for example, Latino high schoolers have the lowest graduation rate in the country. That is Latino... students in Minnesota have the lowest graduating rate from high school in the US.

And just a fact that I think hopefully will lead us to also talking into what we call social determinants of health is the fact that, for example, Latino high schoolers have the lowest graduation rate in the country. That is Latino... students in Minnesota have the lowest graduating rate from high school in the US.

So we have these pockets of inequity, to call it somehow, in certain groups for reasons that are I don't think completely understood, but are a painful reality. How can we have such a good performance in so many metrics and indexes as you refer to, Clarence? And yet we have this very painful realities of specific groups being really very behind compared with even the rest of the country.

So we have these pockets of inequity, to call it somehow, in certain groups for reasons that are I don't think completely understood, but are a painful reality. How can we have such a good performance in so many metrics and indexes as you refer to, Clarence? And yet we have this very painful realities of specific groups being really very behind compared with even the rest of the country.

Yeah, no, that's great. I think the question is no longer, do we have healthcare disparities?

Yeah, no, that's great. I think the question is no longer, do we have healthcare disparities?

The answer is very clear. And, you know, it's very clear to most people, to most stakeholders. There was a time not that distant in the past where some people were very skeptical about, yeah, about the disparities because hospitals and medical groups were providing good care to everybody who comes through our doors. And there was that perception of we are doing the best we can with everybody.

The answer is very clear. And, you know, it's very clear to most people, to most stakeholders. There was a time not that distant in the past where some people were very skeptical about, yeah, about the disparities because hospitals and medical groups were providing good care to everybody who comes through our doors. And there was that perception of we are doing the best we can with everybody.

We don't... quote C color and so forth. And really showing this data has been very important to leaders in healthcare to say, actually, yes, you are doing your best, you think, but you do have healthcare disparities in your system. And these are the numbers. So now the question is what are we going to do about it? Because we do have those disparities.

We don't... quote C color and so forth. And really showing this data has been very important to leaders in healthcare to say, actually, yes, you are doing your best, you think, but you do have healthcare disparities in your system. And these are the numbers. So now the question is what are we going to do about it? Because we do have those disparities.

And perhaps we do make a parenthesis because I think the answer to that question really requires that we have clear concepts about some of the terms that we use here interchangeably. One of them is what is health disparity? And basically health disparity is a difference in health, in health status, in outcomes.

And perhaps we do make a parenthesis because I think the answer to that question really requires that we have clear concepts about some of the terms that we use here interchangeably. One of them is what is health disparity? And basically health disparity is a difference in health, in health status, in outcomes.

that is in between groups, that is closely linked to social, economic, environmental, and so forth disadvantage, okay? So it's about health outcomes are different in between two groups. Then we have healthcare disparities, which are basically the difference in accessing care, in the quality of the care, in the use of the care, in having insurance or no insurance.

that is in between groups, that is closely linked to social, economic, environmental, and so forth disadvantage, okay? So it's about health outcomes are different in between two groups. Then we have healthcare disparities, which are basically the difference in accessing care, in the quality of the care, in the use of the care, in having insurance or no insurance.

So because I think when we talk about what can we do about the disparities, we need to know what the problem is. There are health disparities. There are now also health care disparities. That is, the way we provide medical care for patients has some inbuilt disparities. And then what is my area of impact? I think each one of us has to ask the question, what can I do?

So because I think when we talk about what can we do about the disparities, we need to know what the problem is. There are health disparities. There are now also health care disparities. That is, the way we provide medical care for patients has some inbuilt disparities. And then what is my area of impact? I think each one of us has to ask the question, what can I do?

Because what is clear is that some of these social, economical, environmental disadvantages, these are huge policy, political, and societal issues that one can feel very important to do anything about. And then you can say, well, there's nothing I can do to change this huge monster of injustice. And basically you give up and just do nothing.

Because what is clear is that some of these social, economical, environmental disadvantages, these are huge policy, political, and societal issues that one can feel very important to do anything about. And then you can say, well, there's nothing I can do to change this huge monster of injustice. And basically you give up and just do nothing.