We Must Change the Way We Access Women’s Health
Submitted on behalf of the sponsor of The Rag, Alpha Medical:
It’s no secret that women face the greatest barriers when it comes to accessing healthcare. When it comes to accessibility, cost, and quality, our healthcare system fails women. The numbers prove this unfortunate reality: the average wait time, even in larger cities, to see an OB/GYN is 26 days for a new patient. Women’s yearly health expenses are 80% higher than men’s. Despite paying more, women patients are more likely to face health complications and worse outcomes.
The origin for this disparity is complex, but one place to start is with our medical institutions, and the way women’s health is taught (or in this case, isn’t taught). Only 9% of medical schools in the U.S. offer women’s health as a course or elective. The overwhelming majority of patient case examples have white men as patients, giving students a limited view of what various conditions look like for different people. Women have been historically excluded from drug trials, which underscores the lack of understanding around women’s bodies. There are enormous gaps in the way women patients are seen and understood by our medical institutions as a result of these biases and exclusions.
In addition to bias, geography and ability to take time off impact access to healthcare, too. Approximately 13 million Americans live in a “primary care desert” — an area with inadequate access to a primary care provider — and in 294 counties, the majority of residents live in a region with a primary care provider shortage. A lack of access to paid leave also causes many people to delay seeking medical care, or have to make the difficult decision between risking their jobs to see a medical provider. Mothers employed in low-income or part-time work are most likely to report having to miss work, and have the least paid sick leave benefits.
Women must access healthcare through affordable, accessible care, including asynchronous telemedicine platforms. Primary medical providers must be trained in women’s health so that patients receive continuous, whole-person care. Virtual and asynchronous care (meaning communication is done through a HIPAA-secure messaging platform rather than real-time) ensures patients don’t need to take time off or make an appointment to receive care.
Another benefit of virtual primary care is that it opens up space for patients who may feel anxiety or fear judgment from a provider. By removing the need for an in-person visit, patients may feel more comfortable seeking care on their terms. For example, telemedicine is improving access to gender-affirming care. In one study, nearly half of transgender youth expressed interest in receiving telemedicine for gender-affirming care, and this percentage was higher among youth who perceived lower parental support. Higher-weight patients who may feel uncomfortable at a doctor’s office can also access quality care with telemedicine. Many higher-weight patients report that they’ve experienced weight bias from a provider. Physical cues at an in-person clinic, such as waiting rooms that can’t accommodate higher-weight patients or a lack of blood pressure cuffs in the right size, are not an issue with telehealth.
Alpha is proud to sponsor The Rag this season, to help amplify youth voices fighting for change in the care and healthcare they deserve.
Alpha is built on a clear set of truths: the quality of care should not be determined by proximity to a doctor, access to birth control should be unlimited, every aspect of your health is important and should be under your control. What this ultimately means is that women — unique, complex, multifaceted individuals — can access care that treats the whole person.
