The Cost of Inaction: Going Beyond the Business Case for Addressing Racial and Ethnic Disparities (Webinar)

Part of the Disparities Solutions Center Web Seminar Series hosted by the Disparities Solutions Center at Massachusetts General Hospital

Tuesday, May 11, 2010
2:00 - 3:30 pm EST

In an effort to disseminate the latest information on disparities interventions, findings from important disparities research, and health policy updates regarding disparities reduction efforts, the Disparities Solutions Center at Massachusetts General Hospital hosts regular web-based seminar series.

 

Join us for our next web seminar “The Cost of Inaction: Going Beyond the Business Case for Addressing Racial and Ethnic Disparities.”  There is a growing recognition that equity is an essential part of quality, and this has inspired efforts to address racial/ethnic disparities in health care. Perhaps the factor that most impedes progress has been the lack of a “business case” to address disparities. Yet recent research illustrates the cost of disparities, and calls into question whether the premise should be “Is there a business case to address disparities?”, but instead an acknowledgment of the incredible cost of inaction in addressing them. Each day we deny the cost of disparities—both financial and human—the cost of inaction climbs. 

This interactive web seminar is free and open to the public, and will feature presentations from Thomas LaVeist, PhD, lead author of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies recent report: “The Economic Burden of Health Inequalities in the United States”. Dr. LaVeist is Professor of Health Policy and Management, and Director of the Center for Health Disparities Solutions at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He will be joined by Wayne Rawlins, MD, MBA, National Medical Director at Aetna, and Patrick Hagan, MHSA, President and COO at Seattle Children’s Hospital, who will provide their comments and perspectives on this important work.  

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