Speakers include:
- Selwyn O. Rogers, Jr., MD, MPH
- Atul A. Gawande, MD, MPH
- Haile T. Debas, MD
- L.D. Britt, MD, MPH
- Edward E. Cornwell, III, MD
- John L. Tarpley, MD
- Louis W. Sullivan, MD, MACP
- Jim Y, Kim, MD, PhD,
- Thomas R. Russell, MD, FACS
Location: Seaport World Trade Center, Boston, MA
Although disparities in surgical care have been documented, few attempts have been made to systematically study and understand the complex determinants of these disparities. Moreover, few studies have evaluated interventions to eliminate disparities in surgical care. We need to develop, implement, and evaluate strategic changes in our health care systems, our patients, and ourselves to eliminate disparities in access to surgical services, as well as the outcomes of surgical care.
Given the complexity of these issues, this unique course provides an opportunity for a broad based coalition of clinicians, policy makers, advocates, and other stakeholders to put forward multi-pronged approaches to the elimination of surgical disparities. The focus of this symposium is to translate research to practice.
Because surgical disparities are not limited to populations in the United States, the global problem of disparities in surgery and its unique challenges will be addressed, including presentations of case studies from the developing world.
Constrained resources, systems of care, quality of surgical care, and surgical safety all impact the delivery of surgical care and often effect disparate outcomes. These facets will be explored in greater depth.
The role of academic medical centers in surgical delivery, issues of workforce development and human capital, the impact of health care reform with Massachusetts as a model, the importance of data collection of race/ethnicity and primary language, and community participatory interventions as they impact these disparities will also be addressed.
This second symposium aims to build on the momentum and energy of the first meeting and continue to seek to understand the nature of disparities in surgical care and the factors that influence and mitigate them. To that end, this course is structured to have multiple opportunities for formal and informal interaction with faculty and will foster networking and collaboration.
Upon completion, participants of this course will be able to:
* Define disparities in surgical care
* Understand how systems of care, public policies, resource utilization, health care reform, surgical safety, and surgical workforce can affect surgical outcomes
* Discuss the local, national, and global impact of delivery of surgical services
* Identify areas to focus research and implement practical solutions in their own practice to mitigate surgical disparities
Objective
* Create public awareness of disparities in surgical care on local, national, and global levels
* Devise strategies to improve systems of care as a potential solution to mitigate disparities in surgery
* Present evidenced-based research and practical interventions and explore new approaches to eliminate disparities in surgical care
* Establish ongoing communications with existing health services researchers and potential new collaborators
* Generate and publish a summary of the symposium proceedings
Poster Session
You are invited to submit your work for consideration to participate in our poster session detailing work in disparities in surgery (descriptive, interventional, or clinical research/basic science) or global disparities (case studies, burden of surgical disease).
Poster session: Monday, October 27 from 5:00–6:30 P.M.
Submission Deadline: August 1, 2008
Acceptance Notification: August 16, 2008
More information online at http://cme.hms.harvard.edu/cmeups/custom/02814075/02814075.htm