Dear Healthcare Provider:
In San Bernardino County as well as across
the nation (as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[CDC] and the Institute of Medicine [IOM]), the death rates for minorities
are extremely high relative to other people groups. Of which,
Blacks/African Americans suffer a disproportionately greater burden
of mortality and morbidity from all diseases than any other racial/ethnic
group. African Americans and Latinos in our County die 13 years sooner
(average age at death for Black and Latino males is 56, and for Black and
Latina females is 62) than Whites and others from health conditions such as
Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, HIV/AIDS, Prostate Cancer and Breast
Cancer.
To better understand this healthcare
disparity gap, the San Bernardino County Medical Society (SBCMS) and
the Inland Wellness Information Network (IWIN) received a grant from
the California Endowment to conduct a countywide health-planning
project that targets the Black/African American population. To learn more
about this health planning grant and the health planning process, please go
to http://www.sbcms.org and click on the African American Health
Initiative (AAHI). Plans are underway to conduct similar health planning
among Latinos other minority populations in this county.
The AAHI has created a community-based participatory health
planning approach to obtain first hand data about the healthcare delivery
system in San Bernardino County. This approach includes conducting a
county-wide survey (inventory) of all healthcare providers who offer
prevention programs and/or treatment services that focus specifically on the
above five (5) major health conditions among the Black population.
The survey is available online at
http://www.aahi.info/providersurvey/ under the African American
Health Planning Project link. Please follow the instructions carefully. If
you need assistance, or would like to talk to us about this health planning
process, please contact the AAHI health planning staff at (909) 825-6256.
Please be advised, that during data collection we expect a high volume of
response and may not be able to answer your call immediately. In that
instance please be patient we will return your call as soon as possible.
Thank you for your time, interest, support,
and participation. We believe that together we can make a difference in
providing quality healthcare to all residents of San Bernardino County.
Sincerely,
V. Diane Woods
Dr.P.H.(c), M.S.N., R.N.
