“Disparities in outcomes for Maori and Pacific people with heart failure are stark, with significantly high hospitalization, readmission and mortality rates”.
In a significant stride towards addressing health disparities in New Zealand, Dr. Sandra Hanchard, a Research Fellow at the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at Waipapa Taumata Rau, has been honored with the prestigious Inaugural Joint Heart Foundation-Pūtahi Manawa Pacific Research Fellowship. This project aims to understand what equity looks like for discharge planning, and how some of the disparities in outcomes for Māori and Pacific people develop.
“In our research, clinicians and patients have told us there are opportunities to improve current practices in discharge planning. I want to understand how those improvements can address the higher hospitalization, re-admission and mortality rates for Māori and Pacific people compared to non-Māori and non-Pacific people.
Dr. Gerry Devlin, the Medical Director of the Heart Foundation, expressed his delight in supporting Dr. Hanchard’s groundbreaking research through the Pacific Research Fellowship. He emphasized the importance of such initiatives in driving progress towards achieving health equity in New Zealand.
Despite advancements in medical treatments leading to longer and healthier lives for many New Zealanders, significant disparities persist across different segments of society. Dr. Hanchard’s research endeavors to confront these inequities head-on, offering insights that could pave the way for more targeted and effective interventions.
As Dr. Hanchard embarks on her research journey, supported by the esteemed fellowship, hopes are high for the transformative impact her findings may have on healthcare practices and policies. Through her dedication and expertise, she embodies a beacon of hope in the ongoing quest for health equity in Aotearoa.