USING YOUR VOICE: ADVOCACY AS A TOOL FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

6-27-2024

Publication Title

J Gen Intern Med

Keywords

algorithm, best practice, clinician, conference abstract, exercise, health care personnel, health care policy, health care system, health equity, health outcome, health status, hospital planning, human, internist, leadership, medically underserved, physician, social justice, social media, social status, structural racism, treatment outcome, workshop

Abstract

COLLABORATION: Leadership in Health Policy (LEAHP) Health Policy Committee: Education Subcomittee SESSION SUMMARY: Physicians are in a unique position to advocate for structural changes to improve the health of patients. 80 percent of health outcomes are attributable to factors outside of clinical care such as socioeconomic status, behavior, and environment. The health of communities of color is further marginalized by systemic racism and other forms of oppression. It is crucial for physicians to learn and apply multiple strategies for advocacy of historically marginalized populations to affect change in the health status of these communities. In this workshop, we will focus on various strategies that internists can utilize to advocate for historically marginalized or medically underserved patients in their practice and in their communities. We will outline an advocacy framework which can be applied in clinical or academic settings involving 3 key areas outlined below: 1. Building your coalition and organizing: Prior data has shown that healthcare worker-based coalition building improves patient outcomes but is underutilized. We will discuss concrete examples of what it means to join or build a coalition and how to get involved as busy clinicians. In addition to community collaborations, we will also discuss how to advocate for policy changes or program development at the institutional level (academic medical center, hospital systems, outpatient practice). 2. Communicating with policymakers: We will outline direct advocacy through communication with policymakers, including letter writing, arranging meetings with a leave-behind document, and public comment. 3. Communicating with the public: We will highlight two strategies to use your voice as a physician through OpEds and promoting engagement through social media. Participants will interact with this material through small groups where case scenarios will form the basis of opportunity for advocacy of a historically marginalized or medically underserved patient population. Participants will then discuss how they would approach each scenario using the strategies outlined above. To help guide the discussion, we will provide a structured algorithm to suggest advocacy strategies that best fit the clinical scenario/interest. After the small group exercise, we will reinforce best practices in large group discussion and review. At the end of this workshop, participants will take away clear strategies and resources to advocate for historically marginalized/medically underserved patients in their communities. RELATION TO MEETING THEME: Physicians are in a unique position to engage multiple facets of our healthcare system, and it is crucial that we advocate on behalf of historically marginalized communities to promote health equity and strengthen relationships with these patients.

Volume

39

First Page

S986

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