Lifelong learning practices and leisure-time exercise habits of academic and community-based physicians

Toward a More Just System of Care in Molecular Pathology

Policy Points American health care policy must be critically assessed to establish the role it plays in sustaining and alleviating the health disparities that currently exist in molecular genetic testing. It is critical to understand the economic and sociocultural influences that drive patients to undergo or forgo molecular testing, especially in marginalized patient populations. A multipronged solution with actions necessary from multiple stakeholders is required to reduce the cost of health care, rebalance regional disparities, encourage physician engagement, reduce data bias, and earn patients' trust.

CONTEXT

The health status of a population is greatly influenced by both biological processes and external factors. For years, minority and low socioeconomic patient populations have faced worse outcomes and poorer health in the United States. Experts have worked extensively to understand the issues and find solutions to alleviate this disproportionate burden of disease. As a result, there have been some improvements and successes, but wide gaps still exist. Diagnostic molecular genetic testing and so-called personalized medicine are just now being integrated into the current American health care system. The way in which these tests are integrated can either exacerbate or reduce health disparities.

METHODS

We provide case scenarios-loosely based on real-life patients-so that nonexperts can see the impacts of complex policy decisions and unintentional biases in technology without needing to understand all the intricacies. We use data to explain these findings from an extensive literature search examining both peer-reviewed and gray literature.

FINDINGS

Access to diagnostic molecular genetic testing is not equitable or sufficient, owing to at least five major factors: (1) cost to the patient, (2) location, (3) lack of provider buy-in, (4) data-set bias, and (5) lack of public trust.

CONCLUSIONS

Molecular genetic pathology can be made more equitable with the concerted efforts of multiple stakeholders. Confronting the five major factors identified here may help us usher in a new era of precision medicine without its discriminatory counterpart.

Concluding Commentary: A Call for evidence in CPD and Lifelong Learning

This article was migrated. The article was marked as recommended. The AMEE CPD Committee was invited to oversee the launch of the first themed edition of MedEdPublish on Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for 2019's first quarter and sent a call for papers on evidence-based discussion on CPD and lifelong learning. The main aim was to highlight research and work supporting healthcare professions continuing education and professional development. A collection of seventeen manuscripts of various types such as "New Education Method and Tools", "Research Article", "Case Study", "Practical Tips or Guidelines", "Report of Meeting or Workshop" and "Commentary" were published. The articles portray fundamental good CPD practices encompassing the array of professional competencies needed to provide high quality healthcare. The manuscripts cover various CPD subthemes among which, mentorship and feedback, interactive learning, learning communities and applied technology, interprofessional education, evaluation and assessment, research in CPD, CPD frameworks, patient safety and quality improvement. They also embrace various perspectives and cultural diversity with the deemed adjustments to the regional healthcare teams' needs. The role and responsibilities of CPD educators are emboldened. This edition was a platform to welcome and discuss CPD under various perspectives among the global CPD community.