Health inequity: America’s chronic condition? | Esteban López | TEDxSanAntonio

The idea of health disparities has been socialized among public health advocates, but the concept of health inequities takes the focus further pointing out the systemic, avoidable, unjust, social and economic policies and practices that create barriers to health.
Esteban López, MD, MBA serves as the Chief Medical Officer and Southwest Texas Market President for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, where he helps fulfill its mission to improve the health and well-being of its five million members. In addition to serving as the executive sponsor for Texas Government Programs, Dr. López leads the Community Investment Department in its long-term strategy to improve public health.
He was one of 61 leaders selected from across the nation - and the only one representing South Texas - to join the prestigious ranks of the Presidential Leadership Scholars Program. Additionally Dr. López is a Director of the Texas Lyceum. Dr. López is dual board certified in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics with a Masters in Business Administration.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@amberlyhabit]

I paid $500 to learn from this video…love college

[@Fiandrea9]

The changes I want to see implemented to increase health equity in my community is increased of doctors in hospital in low- income and minority communities, equal treatment. decrease wait time and hire Health leads. For example, The Advantages of health leads that it connects low-income patients with the necessary resources they need to be healthy. I believe that it is a doctor’s duty to not only treat illnesses, but to also try and prevent them. Going the extra mile for patients and asking them things like if they have heat in the winter, are they running out of food, and if they have safe housing are crucial. These steps should be done to help prevent patients from getting sick in the first place. If the healthcare system does this trust me we will see a significant decrease in people in hospital and in clinics.

[@BronzeSista]

Why would asking about food change the way a doctor treat me because I am a minority? If a patient is poor and minority they will not get the best care, compared to a poor white patient.

[@timothyimban6907]

thank you. now i can do my assignment

[@VpPau]

X2

[@quidejhamalcom1277]

X3

[@gritmakaveli]

😂❤

[@victorpeng5531]

Thank you.

[@kristinj1778]

What an awesome video, thanks!

[@nicazer]

I wonder what the cortisol levels in female combat veterans are, and if they tend to have low birthweights in pregnancy?

[@gborowme]

Thanks

[@anamercedespanquebarodrigu5739]

Nesecito la charla en español

[@ld1667]

Inspiring! :)

[@123-dz8vr]

It always surprises me that the United States is the highest spending country worldwide when it comes to healthcare, yet it ranks 47th in life expectancy. It always makes me wonder where does the money go? How can we fix healthcare disparities so that less people will die? How can we remove barriers to health care access? I thought Mr. Esteban Lopez had several great solutions to health inequalities ranging from individual based to local communities to healthcare systems. For the individual approach, Mr. Lopez proposed practicing biofeedback to decrease level of cortisol and creating social networks with friends and neighbors within the community, and collaborate with local business to address health disparities, pay healthcare professionals for values to improve the health of entire populations. However, I would like to propose a few other solutions that can be considered at each level. First, we can target the racial bias at the individual level. As human beings, we all have implicit bias that we develop towards strangers based on previous interactions or stories that one may have heard about their race, gender, or ethnicity. To tackle implicit bias and racial bias, it is important for us to have an open mind and get to know the person as a whole regardless of their appearance, skin color, income, occupations. In order to address the issues on the healthcare community and system level, it is important to consider the ethical component, justice. The principle of justice in medical ethics refers to a fair and equitable distribution of health resources. One part of seeking justice is to promote the fiscal sustainability of the health system for the greater good of society. Although Mr. Esteban Lopez mentioned that we cannot wait for someone else to come solve our problems, I believe it is the responsibility of the whole society and government to provide health equity across all populations. If the state and government expect all their citizens to pay taxes, then we should expect affordable healthcare from them. Resources should be allocated to marginalized populations to address social determinants of health (housing, transportation, working conditions, education, racism) that may hinder their ability to seek healthcare. Having access to affordable and quality healthcare shouldn’t be a privilege, it should be a right.

[@estebanlopez3641]

this guy has my name

[@estebanlopez3641]

bro no way

[@kyleluke4025]

Can someone explain to me what Voter ID has anything to do with Health inequity. If you have a state or federal ID you can vote. IS it not this simple?

[@geoffreyokwelu8338]

It has a lot to do with it because the suppression causes stress which affects cortisol

[@kyleluke4025]

@@geoffreyokwelu8338 nice try Geoff. However requiring identification is not suppression.

[@nb6426]

I think he was giving example of disparities and FYI getting ID is not that “simple” for everyone! That is what the whole topic is discussing…Health Disparities! What you think is simple is not true for all!

[@kyleluke4025]

@@nb6426 I am not against creating more efficient systems to ease administrative burdens and decrease bureaucratic hindrances to the taxpayer's time constraints by other personal obligations.

[@nb6426]

@@kyleluke4025 personal obligations have nothing to do with disparities that some individuals face with just being able to meet their basic needs! This maybe why some do not have ID , equity for some does not come for all!

[@Clifford03]

What does voter ID have to do with healthcare...If you going to vote and influence the country direction is it too much to ask to get an ID...

[@nb6426]

Your ID is the start for everything in this country! Believe it or not some people do not have a ID I do not know why that is baffling to some people that is what the discussion is about disparities and inequities!

[@mvny100]

Where I live, we don't require Voter ID. They have my signature and compare my signature to that when I vote. Everyone who is registered gets one vote. I remind myself every time I vote how easy it is for me, and that people in other states have more obstacles to vote than I do. I can leave my house with nothing but my key and go to vote and not have to worry that I've forgotten or misplaced a voter ID. The ID, whether you agree with it or not, is an intentional barrier. People with more privilege will think it's not much of a barrier and won't mind it that much. I hope you can learn what some of the barriers to obtaining a Voter ID are (including taking time off work to get it, transportation to get it, etc.) I believe voting should be barrier-free. And if you can't vote - and you can't vote for politicians who will improve healthcare, then yes - voter IDs are tied to healthcare outcomes.

[@strlslvr987]

If you can't get an id to be able to vote then #1 it causes stress. then if enough people don't vote on issues that impact public health it hurts the community, plus causes more stress in those individuals who were not able to vote.

[@jimmybobrayboewdrearx8105]

m

[@melaninjay592]

This is political.

[@jamesheseltine2011]

NOT TRUE. He casually walks past the Asian stats.