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Equity

Research on health care disparities has been a long-term priority area for the Health Services Research and Development Service (HSR&D), and its importance was reiterated in the recent Priority Research Solicitation. The Equity portfolio addresses disparities in the health and health care of traditionally underserved populations (including racial and ethnic minorities, and rural and homeless veterans), with the objective of understanding and eliminating disparities in health in the VA system and ensuring equal access and quality health care for all veterans. The Equity research portfolio is focused on understanding the reasons for disparities in care, and, foremostly, on developing interventions to reduce disparities. HSR&D is primarily interested in the next generation of disparities research targeting interventions to reduce disparities as well as the development of better implementation strategies to translate disparities research findings into practice. The Equity portfolio includes content areas such as health literacy; communication; preferences and beliefs; decisionmaking; access; and other patient, provider and system variables and factors associated with disparities.

For additional information about the Equity portfolio, please contact:

Linda R. Lipson, MA
Equity Scientific Program Manager
Health Services Research and Development (124W)
Email: linda.lipson@va.gov