SUHI Researchers Maureen Benjamins and Steve Whitman have just published a new article on discrimination in health care. This article, Relationships between Discrimination in Health Care and Health Care Outcomes among Four Race/Ethnic groups, was published online in March in the Journal of Behavioral Medicine (DOI: 10.1007/s10865-013-9496-7). 

Many studies have found that discrimination is detrimental to health, but less is known about the influence of discrimination that takes place specifically in a health care setting. To address this, the current study compared levels of racial/ethnic discrimination in health care among four race/ethnic groups and looked at associations between this type of discrimination and health care outcomes. 

Data from Sinai’s Improving Community Health Survey were used.  This was a population-based sample of 1,699 White, African American, Mexican, and Puerto Rican respondents. Overall, 23% of the sample reported discrimination in health care, with levels varying substantially by race/ethnicity. This type of discrimination was associated with an increased likelihood of having unmet health care needs and a lower likelihood of perceiving excellent quality of care.  It was not related to the use of a physician when not sick or the use of alternative medicine. The relationships were similar across race/ethnic groups and could not be explained by coping mechanisms, stress, or depression. These findings expand the literature and provide preliminary evidence that can eventually inform the development of interventions and the training of health care providers. 

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the American Cancer Society, IL Division (M. Benjamins). The Sinai Improving Community Health Survey was completed with generous funding from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Chicago Community Trust. We would also like to acknowledge the support of the Michael Reese Health Trust and the Frederick and Florence Roe Health Policy Fund.

SUHI has partnered with Family Health Network, a Medicaid managed care plan, to provide a comprehensive asthma management education to patients whose asthma may not be well controlled. Click here to view a project description video featuring the testimony of a sixteen year-old girl and her mother, as they describe the improved quality of life they experienced due to the program and help of Community Health Educator, Ms. Pat Perkins. 

After a successful pilot year, the Asthma CarePartners (ACP) program, a collaborative partnership between SUHI and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL), has been funded for another year.  The ACP program utilizes Community Health Workers (CHWs) to deliver comprehensive asthma management education, including trigger reduction and hands-on demonstration of proper medical device technique to help adults and caregivers of children with asthma improve asthma control and lead more healthy and active lives. Since asthma can be impacted by dust mites, mold, cockroaches, and other triggers which may be found within the home environment, a home environmental assessment, and the subsequent remediation of found housing issues, is a critical aspect of the program.

In addition to BCBSIL, the ACP program partners with Family Health Network (FHN) to bring the program to selected children and adults in their Medicaid managed care plan.  The ACP program has served 260 children and adults since its inception in July 2011.  Preliminary data shows an improvement in participants’ level of asthma control and correct usage of medication.  SUHI is thrilled to embark on another year of bringing this critical program to children and adults with asthma in Chicago and looks forward to its continued partnership with both BCBSIL and FHN.

SUHI's Helping Her Live (HHL) Project received renewed funding in the amount of $250,000 from the Avon Foundation to continue its efforts in addressing disparities in breast cancer mortality on the Westside of Chicago. Avon has supported this community navigation intervention since its inception in 2007. HHL staff employs a variety of community outreach methods to target women in North Lawndale and Humboldt Park and help them obtain routine mammogram screening and timely follow-up diagnostic and treatment services, as needed. Throughout the past year, HHL has helped an average of 45 or more women per month obtain such services and with this renewed funding we look forward to continuing to provide this needed assistance in these underserved communities. 

On a sunny October day, the Sinai Urban Health Institute (SUHI) and the Sinai Community Institute (SCI) welcomed 13 visitors from Hamilton Health Sciences in Ontario, Canada to Chicago for a two day workshop.  The Canadian group had contacted SUHI after Ms. Teresa Smith, President of Hamilton Hospital, had read our book, Urban Health: Combating Disparities with Local Data.  Ms. Smith told us she was eager to learn more about “The Sinai Model” and “Pre-Primary Care” and how SUHI and SCI engage with the communities surrounding the Mount Sinai Hospital campus to improve their health.

The first day, October 16, 2012, SUHI members Steve Whitman, Melissa Gutierrez, Kim Artis, Joseph West, Nadia Carranza, Chela Sproles and Wanda Rodriguez gave presentations on our current work in the areas of health disparities, pediatric asthma, diabetes, and breast health. 

On day two, October 17, 2012, SCI staff members Debra Wesley, Cynthia Williams, Steve Foley, Lee Smith and Summer Rosenstock discussed their work around issues of early childhood development, infant mortality reduction initiatives, and social services evaluation.  After the formal presentations, the group boarded a Sinai bus and toured the Humboldt Park Community including the Diabetes Empowerment Center.

The Sinai Health System received monetary remuneration for hosting this event and looks forward to hosting other health care entities who want to explore “The Sinai Model” of community engagement.

In conjunction with the Sinai Food and Toy Drive, the Sinai Asthma Program coordinated a holiday blessing for its most disadvantaged families.  Spearheaded by Program Coordinator, Gloria Seals, and CHWs Rhonda Lay, Patricia Perkins and Rosa Rodriguez, the team presented more than 25 participants and their families with holiday food baskets and Christmas gifts for their children.  The exchange of these generous, fun gifts is heartwarming for participants and staff alike.  In addition to the Food and Toy Drive, throughout the winter season SUHI CHWs help families who express need obtain important winter gear such as clothes, coats, hats, and scarves to fight Chicago’s often icy winter temperatures.  Christmas is known as the season of giving, and through these small but important acts SUHI hopes to brighten the holiday season.

As part of a new collaborative, four first-year medical students from Chicago Medical School are now working with SUHI epidemiologists to conduct research on a variety of health issues.  Specifically, over the next 6 months the students will be conducting literature reviews and writing sections of papers to be published on the following topics:  1) diabetes mortality in Chicago and the U.S.; 2) the effects of chronic lower respiratory disease on minority and vulnerable Chicago communities; and 3) the Affordable Care Act and its impact on diabetes clinical care.  Many thanks to SUHI mentors– Bijou Hunt, Helen Margellos-Anast, Summer Rosenstock, and Joseph West– who have graciously volunteered to introduce these students to public health research. 

On November 14th, as part of Diabetes Awareness Month, the WTTW evening television show Chicago Tonight featured the Lawndale Diabetes Project, a cooperative effort between Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois and Sinai Health System. The segment, which features Diabetes Block Captains and program participants from North and South Lawndale, highlights the damaging impact of diabetes in both communities.

To view the full episode, please visit the WTTW video archive.

In October, SUHI received a $150,000 grant from the Searle Funds at The Chicago Community Trust in support of Evaluation Capacity Building.  This continues a cumulative three year Searle Fund (FY11, FY13) and Trust funded (FY12) collaboration, in which SUHI provides evaluation capacity building and technical assistance to community-based health programs funded by the Trust. 

This year, all grantees fall under the Trust’s ‘Preventing and Reducing Obesity’ efforts, and include The Greater Humboldt Park Community of Wellness, Chicago Public Schools, Enlace, Gary Comer Youth Center, Illinois African American Coalition for Prevention, and TCA Health. SUHI is excited to continue this partnership in order to increase meaningful program evaluation among community health programs in Chicago.

Learn more about how SUHI and the Sinai Health System are fighting diabetes in North and South Lawndale.  

View the project description video produced in partnership with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois. 

Click here to view the video.