Intro: Research has shown that minorities particularly African American and Hispanics are being affected more by the COVID 19 pandemic. This can be due to access to healthcare, crowded conditions, existing chronic conditions, and loss of jobs.
Joining us in this discussion is physician and futurist Dr. Dan O’Brien, MD
Q&A:
Dr. Dan Question: In Chicago and Louisiana what percentage of minorities are being affected?
Dr. Dan answer: African Americans represent 68% of the city’s fatalities in Chicago, and in Louisiana 70% of deaths are related.
Dr. Dan Question: Would understanding racial demographic information be valuable in the future?
Dr. Dan answer: As a medical futurist, this is important information because as we collect data and look at various inputs we could potentially put into a machine learning algorithm, this could be important in the future to see which racial demographics would be affected more.
Dr. Dan Question: Would understanding racial demographic information allow healthcare providers to educate minorities in the future of their potential risks and preventive measures they can take?
Dr. Dan answer: Understanding racial demographics would allow providers to continue to educate and keep these minority groups aware of their risks to keep them safe and well.
Dr. Dan Question: Do you find that not being able to practice social distancing because of minorities having to go to work is playing a role?
Dr. Dan answer: Yes, particularly those minorities who have to go to service-related work jobs to support their families, and also they are riding on public transportation and buses picking up the virus. Also, from a medical standpoint the minorities who have renal failure because of complications from diabetes who are needing to go to the dialysis center and be around other patients with chronic conditions.
Dr. Dan Question: What medical conditions are minorities more susceptible at acquiring?
Dr. Dan answer: Diabetes, hypertension, cancer, asthma, flu, HIV, and pneumonia
Dr. Dan Question: How has residential segregation played a role in this?
Dr. Dan answer: Many families live in multigenerational homes, so they are all living under the same roof.
Dr. Dan Question: Are the homeless and those incarcerated minorities being affected?
Dr. Dan answer: Lack of access to basic needs like food and water on top of already pre-existing conditions can play a major role in minorities being more susceptible.
Dr. Dan Question: Have past pandemics like the Spanish Flu and the H1N1 showed similar patterns of minorities being affected?
Dr. Dan answer: Research has shown that black people have a higher risk of dying when they get the disease.
Dr. Dan Question: With this concern in minority groups, how will this affect diagnostic testing?
Dr. Dan answer: The data that is collected with researchers will be key at looking at various racial geographical areas on where to focus the most amount of attention on education and awareness to protect the minorities from getting sick.
Dr Dan Question: Do minority groups less likely to have health insurance?
Dr. Dan answer: Research has shown that minority groups are less likely to have insurance which often complicates their need to get appropriate diagnostic testing and treatment.
Dr. Dan Question: What are the next public health steps in the future of minorities to keep them safe?
Dr. Dan answer: Awareness and education are crucial right now, and as we understand the data from COVID-19, we will better be able to predict which racial demographics will be affected more. Public health has been underfunded for so many years, but COVID-19 has transformed public health officials.
About Dr. Dan O’Brien:
Dr. Dan is a medical expert for ‘the here and now’ but he’s also a medical Futurist, with specialized knowledge in telemedicine, digital health, robotic technology, gene editing, augmented reality, software technology and A.I.
A physician and professor with a passion for innovative healthcare technologies and public health, Dr. Dan is a popular medical expert with appearances on national Talk Shows including on Fox Television.
Dr. Dan understands the need to improve quality of care, cost, and access in healthcare. As a Chief Medical Officer for multiple healthcare startups and an award-winning scientific and academic leader, Dr. Dan brings substantial experience in public health and healthcare management.
An award-winning scientific and academic leader, Dr. Dan has worked with several biotech and pharmaceutical companies on increasing awareness, education, and research in many diagnostic and therapeutic fields, including in the biotechnology industry.
Not only is Dr. Dan is a medical expert for the here and now, but he’s also a medical Futurist, with specialized knowledge in nanobots, remote surgery and medical apps with algorithms that can be used in early detection as well as using AI to project the likely spread of disease.
Dr. Dan has an extensive physician network including relationships with key opinion leaders around the world. He has completed his clinical rotations at Emory University in Atlanta, GA and also has completed a certificate of participation from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He has an MBA in healthcare management, and a B.A from the University of Notre Dame.
