Using Clinical Registries to Address Disparities in Covid-19-Using Clinical Registries to Address Disparities in Covid-19 (Webinar)

Video Transcription

Video Summary

In the final installment of the Council Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS) webinar series, the focus is on the utilization of clinical registries to address COVID-19 disparities. Dr. Helen Burstin, CEO of CMSS, introduces the session and emphasizes the crucial role of clinical registries in identifying and mitigating health disparities, a task highlighted by the current pandemic.<br /><br />Dr. Clyde Yancy discusses the exposure of health disparities due to COVID-19, noting the heavier burden carried by Black, Indigenous, and Latino populations. He references data showing significantly higher mortality rates among these groups compared to White and Asian populations, attributing it to adverse social determinants of health, systemic racism, and socioeconomic disparities.<br /><br />Dr. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo elaborates on the importance of geocoding in clinical data to accurately link patient information with neighborhood-level data, illustrating this with a case study on diabetes care in San Francisco. She showcases the high prevalence of COVID-19 in low socioeconomic areas, advocating for targeted testing and community-specific interventions.<br /><br />Dr. Bill Wood presents the American Society of Hematology (ASH) Research Collaborative’s Data Hub. The initiative aggregates data across multiple hematologic conditions, including sickle cell disease and multiple myeloma, to understand and address disparities in care and outcomes. Wood introduces a COVID-19 registry specifically for hematology, which collects global data to inform and guide clinical decisions.<br /><br />Dr. Eliseo Perez-Estable from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) underscores the significance of standardized measurements of demographics and social determinants of health (SDOH) in research. He highlights ongoing NIH programs aimed at addressing COVID-19 disparities, emphasizing the need for robust data systems and standardized consent for data sharing.<br /><br />The panelists collectively advocate for a sustained, integrated approach to addressing health disparities, leveraging the data and insights gathered during the pandemic to inform long-term strategies in public health and clinical care. They stress the importance of community engagement, data standardization, and interdisciplinary collaboration in creating equitable health systems responsive to the needs of all populations.

Keywords

CMSS

clinical registries

COVID-19 disparities

health disparities

social determinants

systemic racism

geocoding

socioeconomic disparities

ASH Data Hub

standardized measurements

community engagement

interdisciplinary collaboration