Owen Garrick

Bio: Owen Garrick is an academic researcher. The author has contributed to research in topics: Health care & Diversity (politics). The author has an hindex of 2, co-authored 2 publications receiving 237 citations.

Does Diversity Matter for Health? Experimental Evidence from Oakland

Abstract: We study the effect of physician workforce diversity on the demand for preventive care among African American men. In an experiment in Oakland, California, we randomize black men to black or non-black male medical doctors. We use a two-stage design, measuring decisions before (pre-consultation) and after (post-consultation) meeting their assigned doctor. Subjects select a similar number of preventives in the pre-consultation stage, but are much more likely to select every preventive service, particularly invasive services, once meeting with a racially concordant doctor. Our findings suggest black doctors could reduce the black-white male gap in cardiovascular mortality by 19 percent.

Does Diversity Matter for Health? Experimental Evidence from Oakland

Abstract: We study the effect of physician workforce diversity on the demand for preventive care among African-American men. In an experiment in Oakland, California, we randomize black men to black or non-black male medical doctors. We use a two-stage design, measuring decisions before (pre-consultation) and after (post-consultation) meeting their assigned doctor. Subjects select a similar number of preventives in the preconsultation stage, but are much more likely to select every preventive service, particularly invasive services, once meeting with a racially concordant doctor. Our findings suggest black doctors could reduce the black-white male gap in cardiovascular mortality by 19%.

Advancing Inclusive Research: Establishing Collaborative Strategies to Improve Diversity in Clinical Trials.

Abstract: Well-characterized disparities in clinical research have disproportionately affected patients of color, particularly in underserved communities. To tackle these barriers, Genentech formed the External Council for Advancing Inclusive Research, a 14-person committee dedicated to developing strategies to increase clinical research participation. To help improve the recruitment and retention of patients of color, this article chronicles our efforts to tangibly address the clinical research barriers at the system, study, and patient levels over the last four years. These efforts are one of the initial steps to fully realize the promise of personalized health care and provide increased patient benefit at less cost to society. Instead of simply acknowledging the problem, here we illuminate the collaborative and multilevel strategies that have been effective in delivering meaningful progress for patients.

Dissecting racial bias in an algorithm used to manage the health of populations

Abstract: Health systems rely on commercial prediction algorithms to identify and help patients with complex health needs. We show that a widely used algorithm, typical of this industry-wide approach and affecting millions of patients, exhibits significant racial bias: At a given risk score, Black patients are considerably sicker than White patients, as evidenced by signs of uncontrolled illnesses. Remedying this disparity would increase the percentage of Black patients receiving additional help from 17.7 to 46.5%. The bias arises because the algorithm predicts health care costs rather than illness, but unequal access to care means that we spend less money caring for Black patients than for White patients. Thus, despite health care cost appearing to be an effective proxy for health by some measures of predictive accuracy, large racial biases arise. We suggest that the choice of convenient, seemingly effective proxies for ground truth can be an important source of algorithmic bias in many contexts.

The Association of American Medical Colleges

Abstract: BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH POLICY COMMITTEE REPORT WAS PUBLISHED AS A SUPPLEMENT TO THE AUGUSTJOURNAL OF MEDICAL EDUCATION. A REPRINT IS ENCLOSED. REQUESTS FOR ADDITIONAL COPIES SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THISOFFICE. -COPIES ARE BEING SENT TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND THE KEY MEMBERS OF THE ADMINISTRATION. CALLING UPON-YOUR SENATORSAND CONGRESSMEN TO TELL THE STORY OF THE ROLE. OF MEDICAL SCHOOLS IN BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH AND HEALTH CARE IS IMPORTANT.I STRONGLY URGE THAT YOU MAKE AN 411 APPOINTMENT TO SEE YOUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES WHILE YOU ARE IN WASHINGTON FOR THE COUNCIL MEETINGON OCTOBER 29. UPON REQUEST WE CAN SUPPLY THE NAMES OF APPOINTMENT SECRETARIES AND PHONE NUMBERS OF YOUR SENATORS AND CONGRESSMEN. APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE ACTED WITH EXTRAORDINARY ALACRITY THIS YEAR. THE-NIH APPROPRIATION WAS INCREASED BY 242 MILLION DOLLARSOVER 1971, REPRESENTING A 142 MILLION DOLLAR INCREASE OVER. THE ADMINISTRATION BUDGET, THE BLUE SHEET ASCRIBES APPROPRIATIONS OUTCOME TO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE COALITION FOR HEALTH FUNDING UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF JOHN A. D. COOPER.

Physician-patient racial concordance and disparities in birthing mortality for newborns.

Abstract: Recent work has emphasized the benefits of patient–physician concordance on clinical care outcomes for underrepresented minorities, arguing it can ameliorate outgroup biases, boost communication, and increase trust. We explore concordance in a setting where racial disparities are particularly severe: childbirth. In the United States, Black newborns die at three times the rate of White newborns. Results examining 1.8 million hospital births in the state of Florida between 1992 and 2015 suggest that newborn–physician racial concordance is associated with a significant improvement in mortality for Black infants. Results further suggest that these benefits manifest during more challenging births and in hospitals that deliver more Black babies. We find no significant improvement in maternal mortality when birthing mothers share race with their physician.

The Impact Of The COVID-19 Pandemic On Hospital Admissions In The United States

Abstract: Hospital admissions in the US fell dramatically with the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, little is known about differences in admissions patterns among patient g...