Pediatric Surgical Equity

 

 

Pediatric Surgery is the surgical subspecialty responsible for the care of infants, children, and adolescents up to twenty-one years and one day old. These specialists, dedicated to direct surgical management, are an essential part of the three pediatric hospitals on the island. The main center for pediatric surgical care is the University Pediatric Hospital, which is linked to a medical school and collaborates in the training of residents and specialists in various areas of pediatrics.

 

However, in the practice of medicine, and specifically in pediatric surgery, there are various inequalities. These inequities may be related to gender, ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status, or the patient's type of health insurance, among other factors. These differences can influence the quality and access to medical care that young patients receive, representing a significant challenge in the field of pediatric medicine and public health in general.

 

It is necessary for pediatric surgical care to focus more on being equitable. To achieve this, more effective strategies and methods must be adopted to ensure impartial and fair access to surgical care for the children of the island, especially considering how factors such as socioeconomic status, lack of health insurance, geographic location, race, and ethnicity can negatively influence the quality of service.

 

To ensure that all children receive high-quality surgical care, regardless of their personal situation, healthcare providers, hospitals, and systems must:

1. Establish policies and standards that promote equity.
2. Provide training on health disparities and how to address them.
3. Improve access to medical services, eliminating obstacles such as cost and transportation issues.
4. Engage communities to understand and meet their specific needs.
5. Collect and analyze data to identify and address disparities.
6. Work together with other professionals to implement necessary changes.

 

Additionally, it is crucial to balance the distribution of patients among the members of a medical team to prevent some from having more patients than others. This helps to prevent staff burnout and ensures adequate care for all patients. Some steps to achieve this include:

 

1.     Create systems to distribute patients equitably among doctors.

2.     Monitor and evaluate workloads regularly to maintain a balance.

3.     Implement flexible scheduling policies for better time management.

4.     Encourage a collaborative and supportive work environment.

5.     Provide training in time and resource management.

 

Establish a feedback system to continually improve processes. These actions will contribute to a fairer and more equitable work environment, which can increase job satisfaction, reduce stress, and ultimately improve the quality of patient care. 

 

*The author is a pediatric surgeon and professor at RCM. Appointments: (787) 340-1868.

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