Race as a Social Construct: Serving the Needs of All Individuals

Race is a social construct that is broadly used to categorize people based on physical characteristics, behavioral patterns, and geographic location. Race is not a proxy for biology or genetics. Data regarding race is typically based on self-identification and data collection routinely allows respondents to select more than one race. Racial and ethnic groups that have historically faced discrimination are at a higher risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Ohio Department of Medicaid recognizes that social inequality, not genetic differences, produce these racial and ethnic health disparities. Examining health access, health care quality, and health outcome data by race and ethnicity allows the health system to assist in addressing the factors contributing to inequity and ensure that the health system serves the needs of all individuals. October 2021

For more information, please contact Melissa Nance, ODM Quality Improvement Section Chief (Melissa.Nance@medicaid.ohio.gov).

Sharing best practices to improve cardiovascular and diabetes health.

Founded in 2017, the mission of Cardi-OH is to improve cardiovascular and diabetes health outcomes and eliminate disparities in Ohio's Medicaid population.

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Older Adults Frequently Undertreated for Hypertension

Hypertension prevalence increases with advancing age, and helping older patients reach goal blood pressure can be challenging due to conflicting guidelines on age-based targets. A recent review in Hypertension found that, for older adults whose hypertension was assessed during a primary care visit, appropriate medication regimen intensification occurred for only 30%.

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Experts at Ohio's seven medical schools identify, produce, and disseminate the latest evidence-based cardiovascular and diabetes best practices.

How We Do It

Utilize monthly newsletters and an online repository of resources at Cardi-OH.org, podcasts available on Cardi-OH Radio, and the Project ECHO® virtual training model.