The Role of the State Health Laboratories in Advancing Health Equity

摘要

While laboratories play an important and recognized role in many public health programs that require surveillance of disease spread or monitoring of environmental con- ditions, the role of public laboratories in assessing and advancing health equity is not well understood. Yet, pub- lic laboratories collect, provide or generate much of the data used to determine health equity status and monitor heath equity trends in multiple settings and disciplines. RI State Health Laboratories, a division of the RI Depart- ment of Health, operates programs that help measure and address health disparities. Health equity themes are present in laboratory programs that measure environ- mental determinants of health and assure equal access to laboratory screening and diagnostic services. This article will review the role of laboratory programs in advancing health equity in the state. Specific examples of laboratory contributions to health equity programs will be provided and examined. Future trends and unmet needs will also be discussed.