The Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC) has issued Improving Health Care Access for Minority and High-Risk Populations; a summary of recommendations designed to improve quality health care access in minority populations. The summary supports ABC’s mission to promote the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease by eliminating inequalities and improving access to health care, evidence-based treatments, and newer developed modalities.
To address critical health care issues in a changing health care landscape; ABC announced a robust advocacy campaign to promote solutions that give visibility to access barriers faced by minorities and high-risk patients. “As providers, we need to offer our patients evidence-based therapies, regardless of race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status. As a society, we will not be healthy until disparities are eliminated and we care equally for all”, states Dr. Keith C. Ferdinand, Chair of ABC’s Access to Health Care Committee.
Five consensus-driven solutions have been identified by ABC and a multi-disciplinary team of stakeholders to improve patient access to care and innovative therapies by crafting definitive, collaborative solutions that expand existing services, streamline processes or address problematic policies.