From Analysis to Action: Advancing Health Equity through Learning Health System Research

Indiana University Indianapolis, Indianapolis IN

Investigators

Abstract

Public awareness has recently increased about the impacts of structural racism and other institutionalized forms of oppression on the delivery of health care and on health outcomes. Addressing issues of health inequity will require a dramatic transformation of how our health care systems function. The “learning health system” (LHS) model, in which internal data and experience are systematically integrated with external evidence, and that knowledge is put into practice, is a paradigm-shifting approach to the delivery of health care and holds great promise as a way to foster more responsive and equitable systems of care. However, in order to achieve results, we must equip stakeholders across the academic and operational enterprises with the knowledge and skills to conduct, implement, and disseminate high quality and actionable LHS research that focuses on health equity. Therefore, this application requests support for a two-day Symposium “From Analysis to Action: Advancing Health Equity through Learning Health System Research,” designed to connect trainees, scientists, faculty and health professionals who aspire to incorporate health equity research into the LHS. The symposium will be held in Indianapolis IN on November 9-10, 2023. The purpose of our symposium is to: (1) Bring together key stakeholders – researchers and health care professionals focused on improving equitable community and population health, as well as those striving to advance equity and workforce diversity to improve the delivery of health care – to connect, collaborate, and provide multiple perspectives on advancing health equity in the LHS; (2) Provide opportunities for researchers and health professionals to integrate principles of health equity into LHS research competencies and domains by showcasing examples of equity- based challenges and solutions; (3) Consider ethical aspects of working with historically excluded, underrepresented, and marginalized patient populations in clinical research; and (4) Foster peer learning and build bridges between research and practice while working within LHS to put research into practice through the dissemination and implementation of evidence in an expedient manner. We will accomplish these goals through a program of speakers, coordinated networking, and breakout sessions that provide practical learning about health equity and relevant research strategies. Our program will be designed for those who are driven to bring quality health care and health care services to historically excluded, underrepresented, and marginalized patient populations, including researchers from a variety of fields (e.g., medicine, public health) and training levels (i.e., fellows, junior faculty, etc.). Importantly, we believe the work to accomplish these goals spans critical areas of interest recognized by the NIMHD, including: (1) the impact of structural racism and discrimination on minority health and health disparities; (2) data science in health disparities; and (3) patient- clinician communication in primary care.