Healthcare access and outcomes are profoundly shaped by zip code and socioeconomic factors, according to public health experts. A person’s zip code can be a strong indicator of life expectancy and the likelihood of specific health conditions, as too many people lack information and resources to improve their health. Many live in “food deserts” where fresh vegetables and fruit are unavailable at reasonable prices, and growing numbers lack affordable health insurance following Republican opposition to extensions in Affordable Care Act subsidies.
Five Health Equity Champions were recently honored at the State of Black Health forum in central Pennsylvania for working to bridge healthcare’s racial, gender, and economic divides. Dr. Sharee Livingston, Chair of the Ob/Gyn Department at UPMC Lititz and Founding Board Member of Patients R Waiting, highlighted stark disparities: Black American women are three times more likely than white women to die in connection with childbirth. She co-founded the Diversifying Doulas Initiative, a team dedicated to bridging inequities in care that Black women receive during pregnancy.
Recognized Champions Addressing Inequity
Phyllis Hicks, Executive Director of the Kidney Foundation of Central Pennsylvania for nearly a decade, has worked to ensure equity in kidney transplant treatment, which historically made Black Americans less likely to be accepted for transplants. She has supported families living with chronic kidney disease through various programs and Camp Kydnie, a specialized camp for children ages 6-19 with kidney disease.
Retired U.S. Army Colonel Jim Williams has dedicated himself to prostate cancer awareness and advocacy, using the mantra “Don’t fear the finger” to encourage men to get regular prostate exams. Kathleen McKenzie, Vice President of Community Affairs at Highmark Inc., and Leilyn Perri, Director of Communications Services for Highmark Blue Shield, were honored for healthcare education initiatives. Perri played a key leadership role during the COVID-19 pandemic overseeing communications for Highmark’s partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Latino Connection, which helped vaccinate nearly 10,000 people across eastern Pennsylvania.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://us.headtopics.com/news/your-zip-code-shouldn-t-determine-how-long-you-live-79634641