ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- It was another first for the Program for Equity in Adolescent and Child Health (PEACH) at the North Campus Research Complex on July 20, when it played host to its inaugural work-in-progress session.

Jeremy Adler, M.D., M.Sc., presented on his project examining potential inequities in diagnostic delay for pediatric inflammatory bowel disease. Dr. Adler, a Clinical Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, offered four hypotheses for discussion with a group of about 30 people in attendance:

• There are inequities within primary care in time from first symptom presentation to referral to GI.

• There are inequities in time from GI referral to first GI appointment.

• There are inequities in time from first GI appointment to IBD diagnosis.

• There are inequities in time from IBD diagnosis to starting biologic therapy in those for whom it is indication.

"Delays in diagnosis or treatment for children with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis can be associated with worse disease outcomes," said Dr. Adler. "We are interested in understanding why there are sometimes delays and where there may be opportunities for improvement.

"Do physicians come into that first visit with unconscious bias?"

PEACH founder and director Gary Freed, M.D., M.P.H., admits that some of the hypotheses being proposed to PEACH, including Dr. Adler's, might be difficult to prove because of limited data, but Dr. Freed believes it's important to keep talking and digging for the evidence to help our kids.

"What can we measure now, and where can we make a difference?" said Dr. Freed, who also announced that PEACH will hold WIP seminars monthly now.

PEACH, which launched in January, is an innovative research and improvement program committed to improving equity in pediatric care and experience. The program is supported by 10 clinical departments/divisions in the School of Medicine, along with Mott Hospital, the Office for Health Equity and Inclusion, Poverty Solutions and several other units at the University of Michigan. 

For more information, visit peachequity.org