Immigrants and minorities have historically faced challenges in the health care system due to inequities in access to quality care, lower insurance coverage rates and a lack of access to treatment that disproportionately impact Black and Brown communities, compared to White ones. However, one research initiative is looking to mitigate some of these disparities by gathering data from at least a million people living in the United States, with the hopes of providing a more individualized and accessible approach to quality health care.
The All of Us Research Program’s goal is to collect data from Americans that will contribute to research that will allow for individualized prevention, treatment, and care for patients. Why is this approach to patient care especially important to black and immigrant communities?
The All of Us Research Program is a large research program. The goal is to help researchers understand more about why people get sick or stay healthy. People who join will give information about their health, habits, and what it’s like where they live. By looking for patterns, researchers may learn more about what affects people’s health. For example, according to the Centers for Disease Control, Haitian Americans have the highest risk of developing Heart disease, Stroke, and Lower respiratory infections. Participants will be contributing to research that may improve health for everyone. Here are some examples of what researchers might be able to discover: Better tests to see if people are sick or are at risk of getting sick, better mobile apps to encourage healthy habits, better medicine or information about how much of a medicine is right for each person.
The All of Us Research Program is part of the Precision Medicine Initiative. Can you elaborate on precision medicine? Is it affordable and accessible to all, regardless of socioeconomic status?
Precision medicine is health care that is based on you as an individual. It takes into account factors like where you live, what you do, and your family health history. The goal is to be able to tell people the best ways to stay healthy. If someone does get sick, precision medicine may help health care teams find the treatment that will work best. The more researchers know about what makes each of us unique, the more tailored our health care can become. Precision medicine focuses on the power of three: the differences in our environment, lifestyle, and biology. By studying these differences, researchers may find patterns. This may help improve health for everyone.
Historically, what has been the relationship with black immigrant communities and the health care system in America? How does this program impact that relationship?
At the moment, health care is often one-size-fits-all. But imagine a future where your health care is tailored to you. We want to help make that future possible. How? By creating a resource that allows researchers to conduct thousands of studies on health and disease. Join us to learn more about how you can be involved in this historic effort to advance medical breakthroughs and precision medicine.
Learn how you can be included in shaping the future of health care for you, your family, your community, and generations to come by joining us for an All of Us Research Program education session. The community wide event will be held on Saturday, July 13, 2019 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Maranatha French Seventh-day Adventist Church 17304 Linden Blvd, Jamaica NY 11434-1331 and will be presented by Dr. Rick Garcia, Director of Nursing Education for the All of Us Research Program at the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). For more information visit www.joinallofus.org/together
For questions about the event call or email the event organizers at (914)801-1454, or Email: allofus@pace.edu AllofUs.org
Pace University Nursing faculty including Drs. Rhonda Maneval, Marie Lourdes-Charles, Millie Hepburn-Smith, and Carol Roye, and local community members Gretha Fievre and Mireille St. Pierre have joined together with the AACN to organize this community event.
Source: All of Us, the All of Us logo, and “The Future of Health Begins with You” are service marks of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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