Using Data to Achieve Surgical Health Equity in the Community

The goal of this retrospective cohort and pragmatic pilot trial is to examine the social determinants of health in racial and ethnic minority patients from socially vulnerable backgrounds who have Gallbladder Disease (GBD). The main questions it aims to answer are:What racial barriers in outcome exist for socially vulnerable patients with gallbladder disease?How effective is telemedicine consultation in improving surgical outcomes for socially vulnerable patients with gallbladder disease?Study participants will be asked to undergo telemedicine consultation in place of regular consultation with their doctor before undergoing treatment.Researchers will compare the telemedicine consultation groups with traditional care patients to see if telemedicine consultation is effective at reducing surgical disparity outcomes.

Inclusion Criteria:Patients age > 18 in the Primary Care Service Line (PCSL) and Emergency Department (ED) discharges including referral to surgeryMember of a racial or ethnic minority, not primary English speaking, from a low-income neighborhood, or underinsuredWith a new ICD-10 code for symptomatic cholelithiasis or biliary colic seen by a PCSL provider or discharge from an ED between February 1, and June 30, 2023Exclusion Criteria:History of prior cholecystectomyPrisonerGB cancerAdvanced cirrhosisUntreated coagulopathyNo indication for surgeryUnable/unwilling to provide consent