When your pediatrician directs you to the emergency room with your unwell child, your world stops. This scenario became my reality a few weeks ago. It reminded me starkly that in the US, healthcare access can be a privilege, not a guarantee.
Personal Experience Meets Professional Purpose
Thankfully, my son is fine. We didn’t need hospital admission and returned home that evening. Nonetheless, this experience highlighted the many layers of privilege at work in our healthcare journey:
- Access to prompt primary care – Our pediatrician saw us quickly and provided critical guidance
- Geographic proximity – We live near a reputable, well-staffed hospital with emergency services
- Specialized care availability – A pediatric ER doctor was on duty, along with specialists and support staff
- Dignity in treatment – We waited in a private room, not a hallway
- Insurance coverage – I didn’t hesitate when seeking care
- Structural advantages – I live in a state where these resources exist
The Intersection of Professional Insight and Personal Experience
Having spent most of my career in health technology, I notice healthcare settings through dual lenses (professional and patient). I understand the intricate systems at play. I also recognize the broader factors outside a care setting that affect health outcomes.
Equal health access: a daily consideration
Equal health access, ensures everyone has fair opportunities to achieve optimal health. Equal health access (Health equity) is also called healthcare fairness. It means regardless of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, geography, or other factors, everyone has access to the things that make us healthy. It requires addressing the social AND structural determinants creating health disparities. I’m working on a project focused on health equity solutions. We are exploring ways to ensure everyone can achieve optimal health.
As a PM, I enjoy what I do, but when professional work aligns with personal experience, the impact of solving problems and moving to success become immeasurable.
Transforming abstract concepts into meaningful action is what I do, so if you are seeking a partner to expand your venture OR are working on innovative solutions to improve access to care, I would love to hear from you!
#HealthcareAccess #SocialDeterminants #HealthTech #ProfessionalPurpose #HealthcareInnovation #PatientExperience
Illuminira Consulting, LLC 