The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) today is announcing the adoption of a new policy reaffirming the Association's commitment to the elimination of endocrine healthcare disparities in the United States. The Association is making its new policy available for public review on its website.
“AACE actively opposes the continued existence of endocrine healthcare disparities in the USA, and will devote its resources to diminish these disparities. AACE members, staff, partners and others with whom AACE interacts will continue to advocate for understanding, prevention and elimination of endocrine healthcare disparities.”
Healthcare disparities are defined by the US Minority Health and Health Disparities Research and Education Act of 2000 as the "overall rate of disease incidence, prevalence, morbidity, mortality, or survival rates in the population as compared to the health status of the general population." These disparities are present among certain demographic groups in several endocrine related conditions including diabetes, obesity, thyroid cancer, hyperparathyroidism, and osteoporotic hip fractures.
"The continued quality chasm and disparities in health outcomes is a blemish on the health care delivery enterprise," said Samuel Dagogo-Jack, MD, FACE, member of the AACE Board of Directors and Chair of the AACE Healthcare Disparities Committee. "The commitment of AACE to the elimination of endocrine health disparities could not have come at a more opportune time, given the current epidemics of obesity and diabetes."
The following is the General Statement of AACE's position on healthcare disparities in the United States:
"AACE actively opposes the continued existence of endocrine healthcare disparities in the USA, and will devote its resources to diminish these disparities. AACE members, staff, partners and others with whom AACE interacts will continue to advocate for understanding, prevention and elimination of endocrine healthcare disparities."
"Healthcare disparity is not just a minorities issue it is a socioeconomic condition," said Yehuda Handelsman, MD, FACE, and President of The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. "AACE and its endocrinologist members will provide national, regional and local leadership to implement this policy in eliminating disparities in endocrine care."
The AACE policy calls for a five-tiered approach to the elimination of healthcare disparities:
1. Eliminating disparities in the delivery of endocrine healthcare
2. Eliminating endocrine healthcare disparities in research and other educational programs
3. Advocating for policy initiatives to eliminate endocrine healthcare disparities
4. Supporting and fostering future endocrinologists from diverse populations
5. Maintaining an internal governance and organizational structure that reflects AACE's commitment to the elimination of healthcare disparities
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