E9: Empowering Health Equity Through Innovation and Culturally Informed Field Work

In this episode of the Spit It Out Podcast, Rylie Tiffin, the Regional Testing Coordinator at Santiam Hospital, discusses her role in the Oregon Health Authority's grant to improve COVID testing accessibility for vulnerable populations. She discusses initiatives such as bringing wraparound services into laboratory testing and adjusting laboratory information system processes to fit the needs of the most vulnerable community members. She shares insights into the barriers faced during testing and the adoption of saliva as a sample type to meet community needs. Rylie presents innovative solutions, such as a vending machine approach, and the use of Labdash for efficient and accessible testing.