title: The Role of the State Health Laboratories in Advancing Health Equity.
abstract: While laboratories play an important and recognized role in many public health programs that require surveillance of disease spread or monitoring of environmental conditions, the role of public laboratories in assessing and advancing health equity is not well understood. Yet, public laboratories collect, provide or generate much of the data used to determine health equity status and monitor heath equity trends in multiple settings and disciplines. RI State Health Laboratories, a division of the RI Department of Health, operates programs that help measure and address health disparities. Health equity themes are present in laboratory programs that measure environmental determinants of health and assure equal access to laboratory screening and diagnostic services. This article will review the role of laboratory programs in advancing health equity in the state. Specific examples of laboratory contributions to health equity programs will be provided and examined. Future trends and unmet needs will also be discussed. [Full article available at http://rimed.org/rimedicaljournal-2016-11.asp].
authors: Associate Director, Division of State Laboratories and Medical Examiner, Rhode Island Department of Health.
authors: Ewa
authors: E
authors: King
authors: Supervising Clinical Laboratory Scientist, Division of State Laboratories and Medical Examiner, Rhode Island Department of Health.
authors: Cynthia
authors: C
authors: Vanner
authors: Chief, Center for Environmental Sciences, Division of State Laboratories and Medical Examiner, Rhode Island Department of Health.
authors: Henry
authors: H
authors: Leibovitz
authors: Chief, Center for Forensic Sciences, Division of State Laboratories and Medical Examiner, Rhode Island Department of Health.
authors: Robin
authors: R
authors: Smith
mesh_terms: D000397:Air Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control*; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000592:standards*; D000069576:Health Equity / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories / Q000592:standards*; D012237:Rhode Island
chemical_list: D060766:Drinking Water
keywords: health disparities; health equity; state health laboratories