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Stanton EW, Rochlin D, Lorenz HP, Sheckter CC. Early Cleft Palate Repair is Associated With Lower Incidence of Velopharyngeal Insufficiency Surgery. J Craniofac Surg 2024:00001665-990000000-01833. [PMID: 39178397 DOI: 10.1097/scs.0000000000010540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 08/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The timing of primary repair in nonsyndromic cleft palate remains controversial. Recent evidence suggests earlier repair is associated with a lower incidence of velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI). The authors aim to evaluate these findings in a large cohort study using causal inference. METHODS All nonsyndromic cleft palate repairs in California were extracted between 2000 and 2021 from the California Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) database. Cases were linked with VPI surgery following cleft palate repair based on unique identifiers. The main outcome measure was incidence of VPI surgery evaluated with propensity score matching. Early cleft palate repair was defined as <7 months of age versus traditional cleft palate repair at >11 months of age. Standardized mean differences (SMD) were measured before and after matching for potential confounders including sex, race, payer, and distance from patient home to hospital. RESULTS In all, 52,007 cleft palate repairs were included, of which 12,169 (23.3%) were repaired early and 39,838 (76.7%) were repaired traditionally. Early cleft palate repairs underwent VPI surgery in 1.2% (13/1,000) of cases, compared with 6.1% (61/1000) in the traditional repair cohort. Post-matching, the average treatment effect of early repair was a 6.3% reduction in VPI surgery (P<0.001, 95% CI -6.3, -5.4%). All covariate SMDs were <|0.1| after matching. CONCLUSION Our cohort study demonstrates a significantly reduced incidence of VPI surgery in children with primary cleft palate repair <7 months of age. Craniofacial centers should consider early cleft palate repair in appropriate patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eloise W Stanton
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Danielle Rochlin
- Plastic Surgery Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City, NY
| | - Hermann Peter Lorenz
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA
| | - Clifford C Sheckter
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA
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2
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Wagner CS, Barrero CE, Kumar SL, Pontell ME, Salinero LK, Bartlett SP, Taylor JA, Folsom N, Swanson JW. Characterizing Interventions and Family Assistance of a Nurse Navigation Program in Orofacial Cleft Care. Cleft Palate Craniofac J 2024; 61:1164-1171. [PMID: 36895093 DOI: 10.1177/10556656231163397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Characterize the interventions and assistance employed by a cleft nurse navigator (CNN) which have mediated improvement in care equity at our institution. DESIGN Retrospective study. SETTING Academic tertiary care center. PATIENTS, PARTICIPANTS Patients presenting with cleft lip and/or cleft palate presenting between August 2020 and August 2021 with exclusions for syndromic diagnosis, Pierre-Robin sequence, late (> 6 months) presentation, and prior cleft surgery at outside institutions. INTERVENTIONS Multidisciplinary cleft nurse navigator program. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Family interactions with the CNN by phone, text, and email across the first year of life including feeding support, nasoalveolar molding (NAM) assistance, appointment scheduling, financial assistance, addressing perioperative concerns, and facilitating physician consults. Patient weight and surgical timing were also recorded. RESULTS Sixty-nine patients were included with a total of 639 interactions between the CNN and families. Scheduling support (30%), addressing perioperative concerns (22%), and feeding support (20%) were the most common interactions. Feeding support and NAM assistance were heavily distributed in the first 3 months of life compared to after 3 months (P < .001). Median age at first contact was 1 week (range: 22 weeks gestation-14 weeks). There was no difference in the proportion of families receiving feeding support, NAM assistance, or scheduling assistance based on insurance status or race (P > .05 for all). CONCLUSIONS Scheduling assistance, addressing perioperative concerns, and feeding support are the predominant methods by which the CNN interacts with and assists families of patients with cleft conditions. CNN service distribution is largely equitable between demographic groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Connor S Wagner
- Division of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Oral Surgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Carlos E Barrero
- Division of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Oral Surgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Satvika L Kumar
- Division of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Oral Surgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Matthew E Pontell
- Division of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Oral Surgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Lauren K Salinero
- Division of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Oral Surgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Scott P Bartlett
- Division of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Oral Surgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jesse A Taylor
- Division of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Oral Surgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Nancy Folsom
- Division of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Oral Surgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jordan W Swanson
- Division of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Oral Surgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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3
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Heron MJ, Rezwan SK, Zhu KJ, Gornitsky J, Redett RJ, Yang R. A Geospatial Analysis of Barriers to Cleft Lip and Palate Care in the United States. Cleft Palate Craniofac J 2024:10556656241259883. [PMID: 38836317 DOI: 10.1177/10556656241259883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study evaluates the geospatial distribution of cleft lip and/or cleft palate (CL/P) care in the United States, assesses disparities between families with and without one-hour proximity to CL/P care, and recommends interventions for improving access. DESIGN We identified American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association-approved CL/P teams and calculated a one-hour driving radius around each clinic. We then used census data to compare risk factors for developing cleft (i.e., incidence risk factors) and obstacles to care (i.e., access risk factors) between counties with and without one-hour proximity. RESULTS We identified 187 CL/P teams in 45 states. Most were in the South (n = 60, 32.0%), though children in the Middle Atlantic had the greatest access to care. Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Kentucky had the least access. Children without access were 39% more likely to have gestational tobacco exposure, 8% more likely to have gestational obesity exposure, and 28% less likely to have health insurance (p < 0.01). Children without access in the South were 29% more likely to have a low birth weight and 46% more likely to be living below the poverty line (p < 0.01). Children with access were twice as likely to live in immigrant families and 7-times more likely to speak English as a second language. CONCLUSIONS Pronounced disparities affect patients with and without one-hour access to CL/P care. Interventions should address care costs for patients living furthest without access and language barriers for patients with access that speak English as a second language.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Heron
- Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Siam K Rezwan
- Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Katherine J Zhu
- Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jordan Gornitsky
- Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Richard J Redett
- Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Robin Yang
- Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Barr J, Mackie A, Gorelik D, Buckingham H, Clark D, Brissett AE. Health Disparities Research in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery: A Scoping Review. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2024. [PMID: 38796736 DOI: 10.1002/ohn.825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Health disparities contribute significantly to disease, health outcomes, and access to care. Little is known about the state of health disparities in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery (FPRS). This scoping review aims to synthesize the existing disparities research in FPRS and guide future disparities-related efforts. DATA SOURCES PubMed, Embase, Web of Science. REVIEW METHODS We conducted a scoping review in adherence with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews checklist. Our search included all years through March 03, 2023. All peer-reviewed primary literature of any design related to disparities in FPRS was eligible for inclusion. RESULTS Of the 12283 unique abstracts identified, 215 studies underwent full-text review, and 108 remained for final review. The most frequently examined topics were cleft lip and palate (40.7%), facial trauma (29.6%), and gender affirmation (9.3%). There was limited coverage of other areas. Consideration of race/ethnicity (68.5%), socioeconomic status (65.7%), and gender/sex (40.7%) were most common. Social capital (0%), religion, occupation, and features of relationships were least discussed (0.01% each). The majority of studies were published after 2018 (59.2%) and were of nonprospective designs (95.4%). Most studies focused on disparity detection (80.6%) and few focused on understanding (13.9%) or reducing disparities (0.06%). CONCLUSION This study captures the existing literature on health disparities in FPRS. Studies are concentrated in a few areas of FPRS and are primarily in the detecting phase of public health research. Our review highlights several gaps and opportunities for future disparities-related focus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Barr
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Aaron Mackie
- School of Medicine, Texas A&M University, Bryan, Texas, USA
| | - Daniel Gorelik
- Department of Otolaryngology, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Hannah Buckingham
- School of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Delaney Clark
- School of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Anthony E Brissett
- Department of Otolaryngology, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
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Trotter C, Choi DG, Stoneburner J, Roohani I, Alfeerawi S, Fahradyan A, Lee JA, Magee WP, Urata MM, Hammoudeh JA. A Review of Socioeconomic Disparities in Submucous Cleft Diagnosis and Outcomes. J Craniofac Surg 2024:00001665-990000000-01616. [PMID: 38771209 DOI: 10.1097/scs.0000000000010134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Submucous cleft palate (SMCP) is a common congenital anomaly characterized by a diastasis of the levator veli palitini muscle. The subtlety of SMCP on physical examination can contribute to diagnostic delays. This study aims to analyze the factors contributing to delays in care and subsequent postoperative outcomes in patients with SMCP. All patients with surgical indications for SMCP who underwent palatoplasty at an urban academic children's hospital were included. Patient socioeconomic characteristics, medical history, and postoperative outcomes were collected. Patients were compared based on insurance type and government assistance utilization. Statistical analyses including independent t-test, Wilcoxon ranked sum test, χ2 analyses, Fisher's exact test, and stepwise logistic regression were performed. Among the 105 patients with SMCP, 69.5% (n=73) had public insurance and 30.5% (n=32) private. Patients with public insurance were diagnosed later (5.5±4.6 versus 2.6±2.4 years old; p<0.001) and underwent palatoplasty later (7.3±4.1 versus 4.4±3.4 years old; p<0.001) than those with private insurance. Patients receiving government assistance experienced higher rates of post-surgical persistent velopharyngeal insufficiency (74.5% versus 44.8%; p=0.006). The authors' results suggest a disparity in the recognition and treatment of surgical SMCP. Hence, financially vulnerable populations may experience an increased risk of inferior speech outcomes and subsequent therapies and procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Collean Trotter
- Division of Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Keck School of Medicine
| | - Dylan G Choi
- Division of Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles
| | | | - Idean Roohani
- Division of Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Keck School of Medicine
| | - Sarah Alfeerawi
- Division of Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles
| | - Artur Fahradyan
- Division of Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles
| | - Jessica A Lee
- Division of Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Keck School of Medicine
| | - William P Magee
- Division of Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Keck School of Medicine
| | - Mark M Urata
- Division of Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Keck School of Medicine
- Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Keck School of Medicine
- Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Jeffrey A Hammoudeh
- Division of Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Keck School of Medicine
- Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Keck School of Medicine
- Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
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Villavisanis DF, Blum JD, Plana NM, Taub PJ, Taylor JA. Choosing a Multidisciplinary Cleft and Craniofacial Team: Medical, Surgical, and Social Considerations. Cleft Palate Craniofac J 2024; 61:518-522. [PMID: 36168208 DOI: 10.1177/10556656221129967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cleft and craniofacial conditions often present with a variety of functional and esthetic sequelae optimally treated by a multidisciplinary approach. Diagnosis of such conditions pre- or postnatally may evoke parental uncertainty and anxiety, and an important primary consideration is the selection of a cleft and craniofacial team. Identifying an optimal team may be particularly important for developing long-term relationships with clinicians who will ideally work intimately with the family from diagnosis to adulthood. While families, parents, and providers should consider several factors, a dearth of evidence-based suggestions preclude critical appraisal of cleft and craniofacial teams. In this article, the authors summarize medical, surgical, and social considerations for selecting a cleft and craniofacial team to optimize patient outcomes and the family/caregiver experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dillan F Villavisanis
- Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Mount Sinai Health System, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jessica D Blum
- Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Natalie M Plana
- Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Peter J Taub
- Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Mount Sinai Health System, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jesse A Taylor
- Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Wagner CS, Barnett SL, Romeo D, Morales CZ, Salinero LK, Barrero CE, Pontell ME, McKenna RA, Folsom N, Taylor JA, Swanson JW. Sociodemographic Factors Predict Long-Term Attrition from Multidisciplinary Cleft Clinic. Cleft Palate Craniofac J 2024:10556656241234804. [PMID: 38425129 DOI: 10.1177/10556656241234804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Identify and describe factors associated with retention and attrition of patients during longitudinal follow-up at multidisciplinary cleft clinic. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. SETTING Single, tertiary care center. PATIENTS, PARTICIPANTS Patients born between 1995 and 2007 with a diagnosis of cleft palate with or without cleft lip attending multidisciplinary cleft clinic. INTERVENTIONS None tested, observational study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Age at last clinical appointment with a multidisciplinary cleft team provider. Attrition was defined as absence of an outpatient appointment following 15 years of age. RESULTS Six hundred seventy-eight patients were included. The average age at last appointment across the entire cohort was 13.1 years (IQR 6.6-17.2). Patients who were Black (HR 1.60, 95% CI 1.10-2.32, p = 0.014) and other races (HR 1.90, 95% CI 1.22-2.98, p = 0.004) were more likely to be lost to follow-up compared to white patients. Publicly insured patients were more likely to experience attrition than those who were privately insured (HR 1.30, 95% CI 1.03-1.65, p = 0.030). Estimated income was not significantly associated with length of follow-up (p = 0.259). Those whose residence was in the fourth quartile of driving distance from our center experienced loss to follow-up significantly more than those who lived the closest (HR 2.04, 95% CI 1.50-2.78, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS There is a high degree of follow-up attrition among patients with cleft lip and palate. Race, insurance status, and driving distance to our center were associated with attrition in a large, retrospective cohort of patients who have reached the age of cleft clinic graduation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Connor S Wagner
- Divsion of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Oral Surgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, PA
| | - Sarah L Barnett
- Divsion of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Oral Surgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, PA
| | - Dominic Romeo
- Divsion of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Oral Surgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, PA
| | - Carrie Z Morales
- Divsion of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Oral Surgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, PA
| | - Lauren K Salinero
- Divsion of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Oral Surgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, PA
| | - Carlos E Barrero
- Divsion of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Oral Surgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, PA
| | - Matthew E Pontell
- Divsion of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Oral Surgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, PA
| | - Rachel A McKenna
- Divsion of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Oral Surgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, PA
| | - Nancy Folsom
- Divsion of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Oral Surgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, PA
| | - Jesse A Taylor
- Divsion of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Oral Surgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, PA
| | - Jordan W Swanson
- Divsion of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Oral Surgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, PA
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Barrero CE, Kavanagh NM, Pontell ME, Salinero LK, Wagner CS, Bartlett SP, Taylor JA, Swanson JW. Associations Between Medicaid Expansion and Timely Repair of Cleft Lip and Palate. J Craniofac Surg 2023; 34:2116-2120. [PMID: 37493139 DOI: 10.1097/scs.0000000000009524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) increased access to health care for many low-income children. However, the impact of this expansion on the timing of primary cleft lip and palate repair remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate whether Medicaid expansion improved access to timely cleft lip and palate repair and whether it reduced preexisting ethnoracial disparities. Using a quasi-experimental design, the study analyzed data from 44 pediatric surgical centers across the United States. The results showed that Medicaid expansion was associated with a 9.0 percentage-point increase in delayed cleft lip repairs, resulting in an average delay of 16 days. Non-White patients were disproportionately affected by this delay, experiencing a 14.8 percentage-point increase compared with a 4.9 percentage-point increase for White patients. In contrast, Medicaid expansion had no significant effect on the timing of palate repair or on ethnoracial disparities in palate repair. The study underscores the importance of monitoring unintended consequences of large-scale health system changes, especially those affecting disadvantaged populations. Delayed cleft lip repair can lead to worse outcomes for patients, and the disproportionate impact on non-White patients is concerning. Further research is needed to identify the reasons for this delay and to mitigate its effects. Overall, the study highlights the need for ongoing vigilance to ensure that health care policies and interventions do not inadvertently worsen health disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos E Barrero
- Division of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Oral Surgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
| | | | - Matthew E Pontell
- Division of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Oral Surgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Lauren K Salinero
- Division of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Oral Surgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Connor S Wagner
- Division of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Oral Surgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Scott P Bartlett
- Division of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Oral Surgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Jesse A Taylor
- Division of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Oral Surgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Jordan W Swanson
- Division of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Oral Surgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
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Smith CJ, Raval MV, Simon MA, Henry MCW. Addressing pediatric surgical health inequities through quality improvement efforts. Semin Pediatr Surg 2023; 32:151280. [PMID: 37147217 DOI: 10.1016/j.sempedsurg.2023.151280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Concepts of healthcare quality and health equity should be inextricably linked but are often pursued separately. Quality improvement (QI) can serve as a powerful means to eliminate health inequities by adopting an equity-focused lens to diagnose and address baseline disparities among pediatric populations using targeted interventions. QI and pediatric surgery practitioners should integrate concepts of equity at every stage of formulating a QI project including conceptualization, planning, and execution. Early adaptation of an equity conscious perspective using QI methodology can prevent exacerbation of preexisting disparities while improving overall outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charesa J Smith
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA; Northwestern Quality Improvement, Research, & Education in Surgery, Department of Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
| | - Mehul V Raval
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA; Northwestern Quality Improvement, Research, & Education in Surgery, Department of Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Melissa A Simon
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Health Equity Transformation, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Marion C W Henry
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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