Health Variations

Our program prepares students to explore and address complex societal challenges related to health disparities. The University of Utah is engaged in initiatives to improve health outcomes and reduce inequalities within its health system. One area of concern is the use of clinical algorithms that incorporate demographic variables, which can sometimes lead to unintended consequences in care delivery. For example, some algorithms may assess certain populations as being at lower risk, potentially leading to under-treatment. Differences in care recommendations can also occur based on gender; for instance, current guidelines suggest more aggressive lipid screening for men than for women. When such algorithms are integrated into clinical decision support systems, including electronic health record (EHR) reminders, they may contribute to disparities in care.

Our curriculum integrates opportunities for students to study and conduct research on health disparities and related topics. The Chief Medical Information Office at University of Utah Health is working with the Department of Biomedical Informatics (DBMI) on initiatives aimed at improving clinical decision support through projects such as ReImagine EHR. Faculty members—including Drs. Guilherme Del Fiol, David Wetter, and Kensaku Kawamoto—collaborate with the Center for HOPE to study informatics-based approaches for improving health outcomes.