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Using Public-Private Partnerships to Mitigate Disparities in Access to Genetic Services: Lessons from Wisconsin
Journal article   Open access

Using Public-Private Partnerships to Mitigate Disparities in Access to Genetic Services: Lessons from Wisconsin

Laura Senier, Matthew Kearney and Jason Orne
Advances in medical sociology, v 16, pp 269-305
2015
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/S1057-629020150000016010
PMID: 27279725
url
https://europepmc.org/articles/pmc4894330View
Accepted (AM) Open Open Access (License Unspecified)

Abstract

genetic services rural health services health inequalities state health agencies public-private partnerships Public Health
Purpose This mixed-methods study reports on an outreach clinics program designed to deliver genetic services to medically underserved communities in Wisconsin. Methodology/approach We show the geographic distribution, funding patterns, and utilization trends for outreach clinics over a 20-year period. Interviews with program planners and outreach clinic staff show how external and internal constraints limited the program’s capacity. We compare clinic operations to the conceptual models guiding program design. Findings Our findings show that state health officials had to scale back financial support for outreach clinic activities while healthcare providers faced increasing pressure from administrators to reduce investments in charity care. These external and internal constraints led to a decline in the overall number of patients served. We also find that redistribution of clinics to the Milwaukee area increased utilization among Hispanics but not among African-Americans. Our interviews suggest that these patterns may be a function of shortcomings embedded in the planning models. Research/Policy Implications Planning models have three shortcomings. First, they do not identify the mitigation of health disparities as a specific goal. Second, they fail to acknowledge that partners face escalating profit-seeking mandates that may limit their capacity to provide charity services. Finally, they underemphasize the importance of seeking trusted partners, especially in working with communities that have been historically marginalized. Originality/Value There has been little discussion about equitably leveraging genetic advances that improve healthcare quality and efficacy. The role of State Health Agencies in mitigating disparities in access to genetic services has been largely ignored in the sociological literature.

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