At ZS, advancing health equity is core to our mission of improving health outcomes for all. We understand that equitable healthcare means more than providing medical resources—it means ensuring that every individual, regardless of their background or circumstances, has access to the care they need. Our patient health and equity team works to address the challenges underserved communities face by collaborating with health organizations to tackle issues like unconscious bias in care.
Where passion meets action
Team members like Kelly Hulsing, strategy insights and planning consultant, have been pivotal in ZS’s ongoing work with Montefiore Medical Center to understand how unconscious bias affects asthma treatment in Black and Hispanic communities. Asthma disproportionately affects these communities, and poorly managed care can lead to emergency department visits, hospitalizations and even death.
“Health equity is not just a professional focus for me; it’s a personal passion,” says Kelly. “We aim to create more inclusive healthcare solutions so that everyone has the opportunity to achieve their best health.”
The collaboration with Montefiore has been vital in shedding light on the intention-action gap in physician decision-making—what physicians believe they should do versus what they actually do in practice. According to findings from our recent pediatric asthma treatment study, environmental triggers and the use of rescue medications are believed to be important in asthma care. However, these factors are often under-considered in actual treatment decisions, disproportionately affecting Black and Hispanic children.
Conducted between July and August 2023, the study surveyed 307 U.S. physicians and compared their stated priorities in treatment decisions with their real-world actions. Physicians consistently rated clinical factors like prior treatment and symptoms as most important, but despite their frequent relevance to Black and Hispanic children, environmental factors and demographic variables like race and income were less considered in practice.
“The findings from our research with Montefiore Medical Center were enlightening,” Kelly reflects. “It was exciting to see how understanding the drivers of treatment decisions can lead to more tailored and effective healthcare strategies.”
Among the physicians surveyed, only 40% were familiar with the concept of health equity, and while many acknowledge racial disparities—particularly in access to care—their actual practices rarely reflected these concerns.
“Our team approaches each case hoping not to find unconscious bias,” says Kelly. “But by raising awareness and increasing training, we can hope to close these gaps and improve outcomes for all patients.”
ZS’s research highlights that only a small group of healthcare organizations are addressing social drivers of health (SDOH) such as income, race and environmental factors in pediatric asthma treatment. As Kelly and her team’s research continues to uncover the impact of these factors, it’s clear that more education and collaboration are needed. Life sciences companies and healthcare stakeholders must come together to align physician actions with their intentions.
If you are passionate about making a meaningful impact in healthcare, explore our open roles, and join us in creating a more equitable and inclusive future for all.
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