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Initiated in 2004, PATH for women provides accurate, high-quality data and analysis to inform women’s health policy. With the nation lagging far behind critical benchmarks in health, the need for effective policies and programs is increasingly pressing. Our goal is to provide information that empowers policymakers and the public to take actions that advance the health of all women.
We seek to serve as a premier nonpartisan women’s health policy group for Oregon and the country as a whole. Our work is founded on the belief that Oregon---with its openness to innovation and keen interest in health and well-being---is an ideal setting for developing models for women’s health that lead the country.
Housed within OHSU, PATH for women is at an intellectual crossroads. In our work, we recognize and consider multiple dimensions affecting women’s health, including public health, social systems, policy, education, and clinical services.
Track performance on women’s health
As a long-time collaborator on the women’s health Report Card initiative, we measure and assess the country’s performance on key indicators. Our work features a special lens on disparities among different groups of women.
Highlight women’s health issues with policy implications
These areas constitute current, high-impact issues on women’s health within clinical care, screening, and prevention or behavioral health.
Assess and formulate solutions
We apply a multidisciplinary, evidence-based approach to women’s health issues. This entails gathering evidence, analyzing data, and distilling actionable recommendations. We can draw upon a rich web of community connections to devise workable solutions.
Translate research findings for policy, media, and lay audiences.
We bridge the research-to-action gap by presenting complicated, technical information in clear language and user-friendly formats. Our recommendations are concrete and practical.
Incomplete nature of current policy
Health policy for women has focused on only a few indicators of health and has not kept pace with evidence that women differ from men in types of presenting symptoms, diagnosis and prognosis of disease, response to treatment, and response to behavior change programs.
Underperformance in women’s health
Based on U.S. government benchmarks, most states are failing to meet the health needs of American women. In the most recent Report Card study, the nation received a grade of “satisfactory” on just three of 27 benchmarks. Further, many individual states are losing ground in women’s health. In 2007, for instance, 12 states received overall failing grades because of weak performance, up from 7 in 2004.
Persistent and large disparities in health status and access to care
Disparities by factors such as gender, age, race, ethnicity, income. and education continue to be sizable. A strong relationship between low-income and increased barriers in accessing care greatly compromises women’s health. As a nation, we need to close these gaps and ensure all women enjoy the best health possible.
Lack of access to appropriate careThe lack of access to appropriate care including prenatal care, and adequate care for chronic diseases such as diabetes, stroke, and high blood pressure adversely impacts the quality of life and ability to work for thousands of women. These are real issues for our regional and national health services as well as economic viability.
While Oregon’s overall ranking is 14th in the most recent Report Card study, the state falls short on some key indicators of women’s health. Oregon is among the worst performing states for its lung cancer death rate (45th) and stroke death rate (46th). Oregon also seriously underperforms the country for its high level of uninsured women and disparities in access to insurance by race and ethnicity.
The Center for Women’s Health fosters interdisciplinary research in public health, policy analysis, education, and clinical care models for diseases unique to women, more common in women, or with presentations or treatments that differ in women. In 2003, the Center was designated one of20 U.S. Department of Health Services’ National Centers of Excellence in Women’s Health, acknowledging its leadership in women’s health. The Center’s rich mix of research-based and clinical care disciplines provides a unique opportunity to address fundamental questions in women’s health across all aspects of health care and health care policy.
Our areas of expertise include:
- Clinical research that provides the underpinnings for policy development;
- Analysis of data for use in public health planning and clinical care;
- Research into health disparities among differing groups of women;
- Ethical aspects of provision of care to women;
- Developing and testing different approaches to provision of care;
- Integrating key aspects of women’s health in medical training; and
- Translating research results for stakeholders ranging from community members to providers and legislators.
OHSU and the Center for Women’s Health have a strong history of engagement with communities throughout Oregon. These links extend to PATH for women and its work. Our state has both rural and urban populations tightly linked to OHSU programs. In assessing strategies for improving women’s health, PATH for women can draw on OHSU’s long-standing collaborative relationships with community leaders, state health departments, community hospitals and health systems, regional universities, and different graduate training programs. The Center for Women’s Health has worked effectively with state entities, including the Oregon Department of Human Services’ Health Services, to assess women’s health efforts in governmental and private settings.
For More Information
Michelle Berlin, MD, MPH
Oregon Health & Science University
Director, PATH for women
3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, UHN 50
Portland, OR 97239-3098
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