World Health Day. How health data can help underserved communities

Over 1 billion people in the world live in slum conditions, without access to reliable healthcare. But you may find this hard to identify with. Let’s bring it closer to home. 

African Americans represent roughly 13% of the US population but account for almost half of all new HIV infections. Unaffordable medical expenses left 7 million Americans below the poverty line.  

Health inequity leaves underserved communities without access to easy and affordable healthcare -- at home and abroad. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) World Health Day brings this healthcare inequity to light. 

They highlight the 4 things leaders need to do to change this: work together, tackle inequities, act beyond borders, and collect and use reliable and timely data. The latter is our mission.

How healthcare data can make a difference

Using modern and efficient communication

Medical recalls affect millions of products every year. The mask you’re using may be toxic. The vaccine you were booked for is defective. 

But what’s the quickest way to communicate this life-changing information and improve patient safety? Fax? Telegram? Clearly not. But unfortunately, that is the case. 

Our Founder and President Joan Melendez spoke at an FDA public meeting on November 17, 2020, about Communication About The Safety of Medical Devices: 

“Part of the challenge exists in the Federal Registry that restricts the approved “form of communication” of recalls to Mailgram, Telegram and Mail. 

“This restriction adds unnecessary healthcare operational costs (manufacturer and healthcare providers and hospitals) and negatively impacts our environment (relies on print and mail services).  

“More importantly it significantly delays access to critical medical device data the healthcare providers need... at the point of care. As a result, it is the patient who suffers.   It is the patient that is injured.”

Telegrams are obsolete. Posted mail can take days. Literally millions of medical devices and products are recalled each year. The longer a notice takes, the more patients are put at risk. 

Health facilities can use email and other health tech tools to receive notices in real-time. This can effectively stop the use of recalled medical devices and reduce patient risk.

Xcelrate UDI’s barcode scanning technology connects manufacturers with health facilities, which means recall notices are delivered in real-time, directly from the horse's mouth. 

What is Xcelrate UDI doing to improve health equity?  

Underserved communities are caught in a vicious cycle. Healthcare facilities can’t afford health tech equipment to improve data collection. Patients suffer. Less money comes in. Health facilities can afford even less.

We want to stop the vicious cycle and reduce health inequity. Our technology is available to eligible health facilities at a discount, to support underserved communities and improve patient safety.

With our barcode scanning application, healthcare facilities and manufacturers can drastically improve patient safety.

Medical recall notices can be communicated and received in real-time. Vaccine storage and usage information are more easily understood and enforced.

If you are interested in learning more about our healthcare equity program, you can contact us at info@xcelrateudi.com.