...In a report published in 2011 by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, blacks had worse access to healthcare than whites by 39%, and Hispanics had worse access to healthcare than non-Hispanic whites by 63% (“Disparities in Healthcare Quality”). In addition, African Americans had “worse care than Whites for 41% of quality measures,” while Hispanics received “worse care than non-Hispanic Whites for 39% of measures” (“Disparities in Healthcare Quality”). A disparity of healthcare access and quality among races clearly exist, and though the Civil Rights Act laws and other legislations have helped equalize opportunities for minority groups, such discrepancies regarding healthcare access and quality can be explained by financial factors, and implicit discrimination involved with socioeconomic status and partisanship among medical...
Words: 1181 - Pages: 5
...Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and inhumane.” Profound racial and economic disparities in health have long been the norm in the United States. Continuing to perpetuate economic and racial inequalities results in different health outcomes for marginalized communities. Despite efforts to improve healthcare access, racial and economic disparities persist. Unequal health has been an ongoing issue for decades and there are many pieces involved that have created this situation. This paper explores the systemic factors that contribute to racial and economic differences in healthcare, including biases and the lack of diversity in healthcare leadership. Racial inequality is...
Words: 670 - Pages: 3
...In order to eliminate disparities in the healthcare field and create a successful integrated delivery system it needs to be centered towards the vulnerable populations. The vulnerable populations include the economically disadvantaged, minorities, uninsured, elderly, homeless, and those with chronic health conditions such as disabilities, human immunodeficiency virus, and mental illnesses (Vulnerable Populations, 2006). These individuals are at an increased risk for poor physical, psychological, and social health. Although there is a great need for the vulnerable populations, the current financing and service delivery arrangements are not fully meeting the needs of this population. As the need of medical and non-medical services in this...
Words: 348 - Pages: 2
...I do plan to practice medicine in an underserved or disadvantaged community after residency indeed. I know firsthand and empathize with those who lack adequate medical access. There are many physician practices that target areas with inadequate healthcare access. These physicians are extraordinary because they want to eliminate the healthcare disparities that exist. Moreover, they utilize and devote their profession in service to others. Despite their admirable efforts, these private practices are limited only to the specialty of the practicing physician, which means that certain medical specialties may simply not be available. This is why one of my dreams and goals when I become a physician is to build multiple hospitals that provide comprehensive healthcare free of charge to those who truly struggle with healthcare access....
Words: 344 - Pages: 2
...According to the assigned article, "Health Disparities and Structural Violence: How Fear Undermines Health Among Immigrants at Risk for Diabetes. In and effort to Explain the relationship between fear and health identified by the researchers in the article I will start with this issue of cost pointed out in the article. People are afraid to seek health care because they cannot afford the copays, or the medical bills to follow. According to the article, the people in the international district are left with choices to make such as pay for healthcare now or be left in the cold, dark, no food or water and possibly get thrown out in the streets along with their families, possibly young children in the mix, these children's needs takes precedence of healthcare for the adults. The people consider the fact that diabetic complications are not imminent. Eventually, they make a choice to suffer in silence until their health gets out of control, to the point where they cannot tolerate it anymore. At this point, there is not much that can be done for them because the prompt diagnosis has not been made prior to the complexity that they present with to the doctor. There are also the issues of them being unable to discern the bills and not sure how to go about getting the bills settled. Keeping in mind that they are undocumented, they are fearful of deportation, they are stressed out and we all know that stress plays a major role in the exacerbation of any diagnosis especially diabetes...
Words: 766 - Pages: 4
...Investing in healthcare disparities and solutions. INTRO- Healthcare disparities continue to be a major problem in our present-day society, creating uncertainty about access to necessary services and health outcomes. This essay aims to analyze the complicated structure of healthcare disparities while shining a light on the approach to universally fair healthcare outcomes and access. This essay will explore the complicated link between healthcare disparities and how factors such as socioeconomic status, race, location, and differences in cultures affect health outcomes and unequal access to medical treatment. This essay does this by drawing on the information offered by numerous studies. It will address the root causes of healthcare inequality...
Words: 2243 - Pages: 9
...I believe that the cultural competent healthcare workforce help reduce disparities because the cultural communication produces the good relationship between the healthcare workers and the patients, but lacking of the cultural communication would trigger an irrecoverable medial mistake; however, if the cultural competent healthcare workers communicated effectively, they also could provide high-quality care to patients from divers background. It is an important that the healthcare workers-patient’s relationship and the communication between them. When patients go to hospital to care their disease, most of them have own cultural background such as race, gender, and religion. As I used to work as a medical clerk over ten years in Japan,...
Words: 407 - Pages: 2
...December 2, 2012 ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISPARITY IN HEALTHCARE IN AMERICA Disparity in US Health Care is multifactorial, they reflect the differences in demographics, social-economic as well as environmental factors. The Journal of the American Medical Association identifies race as a significant determinant in the level of quality of care, with ethnic minority groups receiving less intensive and lower quality care. Ethnic minorities receive less preventative care, are seen less by specialists, and have fewer expensive and technical procedures than non-ethnic minorities. Studies have shown that this disparity affects the biological vulnerability to disease, utilization of health system in US and health care interventions. Understanding and intervening in the health disparity in the US is imperative because the US population is changing. According to the American Health Association (AHA), by 2050 Minority groups will compose almost half of the U.S. population by 2050. The biggest increase will occur within the Hispanic population. In December 2007, the American Hospital Association (AHA) created the Special Advisor Group on Improving Hospital Care for Minorities as part of effort to ensure equitable treatment of all patients. This article will discuss the issues related to disparity and how the American Hospital Association is taken several steps in helping aid in eliminating the racial disparity in health care. Health disparities in the quality of care exist and are based...
Words: 893 - Pages: 4
...| Disparity of Healthcare for AIDS/HIV Patients | Lana Iris English 12312/15/14 | Disparity of Healthcare with Patients with AIDS/HIV For the last thirty years AIDS/HIV has been a controversial topic, but more recently, the disease itself has not been controversial but the disparity in receiving proper care both in prevention modalities and active treatment for the disease. While the Obama administration has taken steps toward the elimination of these disparities through the National HIV/AIDS Strategy and Implementation Plan, there is still much work to be done. This brief highlights underexplored explanations for these disparities and outlines possible solutions to begin addressing them. Oftentimes, popular culture has offered unfortunately erroneous explanations for the stark racial disparate impact of HIV/ AIDS. The mass media, for example, has suggested that black men “on the down low” infect black women by secretly sleeping with male partners, acting as a bisexual “bridge” between gay and straight communities. But public health scholars have found little support for this theory. Many may assume that black people suffer from greater HIV prevalence because they are considered less sexually responsible than whites. Yet several studies have shown that black women and black men who have sex with men—the two groups most severely impacted by HIV/AIDS—have similar numbers of sexual partners and use condoms as often as their white counterparts. Thus, behavioral risk factors...
Words: 5868 - Pages: 24
...Health Disparities in the African American Cultures Grand Canyon University February 14, 2016 Health Disparities in the African American Culture Health care disparities affect every group of ethnic minorities. These groups include African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, Native Hawaiian, American Indian/Alaskan Natives or multiracial people. Racial and ethnic disparities are one of the many factors that produce inequalities in the health status of an individual in the United States. Whether it is caused by the quality of care, assess to care or insurance coverage. All cause problems for these cultures. In the 2000 census, 36.4 million persons, approximately 12.9% of the U.S. population, identified themselves as Black or African American; 35.4 million of these persons identified themselves as non-Hispanic (cdc, 2012). In 2007, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that the United States had almost 38.8 million Black or African American (12.9% of the U.S. population); more than 45.5 million Hispanics or Latinos (15.1%); almost 13.4 million Asians (4.4%); more than 0.5 million Native Hawaiians or Other Pacific Islanders (NHOPIs) (0.2%) and more than 2.9 million American Indians and Alaskan Natives (AI/ANS) (1.0%) of whom 57% reside on federal trust lands (archive. ahrq,2014). African Americans by both censuses only make up 12.9% of the U.S. population but suffer ethnic and racial disparities at a high rate. This may be due to the lack of...
Words: 1037 - Pages: 5
...Healthcare has grown substantially across the United States in recent years; there are constantly new medical studies to allow everyone to have the best quality of life possible. While this may seem as though improvements are being made for everyone in the country, this is far from the truth. Minority groups have been subject to several types of health disparities, and are not as impacted by the healthcare system because of this. “Furthermore, statistics showed that the poor and minorities - blacks, Native Americans, and Hispanics - had higher rates of illness, more days lost from work, a greater infant mortality rate, and a shorter life expectancy” (Sherrow 37). In both the average society and medical facilities, racial minorities have been...
Words: 1569 - Pages: 7
...Disparities of healthcare in rural areas of the United States have been an enduring challenge resulting in some groups of individuals receiving less and lower quality healthcare than others and experiencing minimal health outcomes. Social determinants of health affect the outlook of mortality and morbidity rates, healthcare access, and behavioral risk factors. It is extremely important to understand how health disparities are affecting the overall health of individuals. Certain disparities are more harmful than others, so it is essential to research how to improve these circumstances and increase quality healthcare. Achieving health equality, eliminating health disparities, and improving the health of all Americans are overarching goals to...
Words: 275 - Pages: 2
...the importance of social determinants in shaping the health outcomes of our community. I emphasized how factors like access to quality healthcare, education, and socioeconomic status can significantly impact the overall well-being of individuals. Since then, I have read more about this topic and gained a deeper understanding of how social determinants affect health outcomes. I am happy to report that my initial arguments have been further reinforced and enriched with additional evidence, strengthening...
Words: 595 - Pages: 3
...In the 21st century, society has made great strides in recognizing and accepting individuals from diverse backgrounds. However, despite these advancements, members of the LGBTQ+ community still face significant disparities in healthcare. Discrimination, lack of understanding, and stigma have created barriers to quality healthcare for individuals in these groups, leading to negative health outcomes and perpetuating a cycle of inequality. It is imperative that healthcare providers and institutions address these disparities to ensure that all patients receive equitable care regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. It’s not a surprise that LGBTQ+ people face disparities in both physical and mental health compared to their heterosexual...
Words: 1417 - Pages: 6
...Health Disparities Solutions: Nurses Can Make a Difference Can Nurses make a difference in reducing health disparities? I believe we can make a big difference, Nurses can work with communities in a “grassroots” type movement to bring attention to the gravity of the inequities built into our current healthcare system. Healthcare is first and foremost about people, and care should be directed by the needs of the people it serves. Secondly, caring is foundational to nursing and this is a concept must be deeply woven throughout all points of health care. The third aspect is the vast pit of inequalities in healthcare; the injustices, denial of treatment and quality healthcare to minorities and the disadvantaged poor. Nurses are known patients advocates, therefore nurses are well equipped, to become leaders, in constructing equitable changes in the system and improve the model of care. Nurses are well- appointed in their understanding, negotiating skills, knowledge of healthcare and patient centered care, to provide guidance and direction to implement meaningful changes. Research in health disparities has identified, that the U.S is burdened by huge social and economic inequalities; it identifies, discrimination, social status, income inequality, and policy decisions as the principal causes of health disparities. The nursing profession needs to reconsider its role and its purpose in reducing health disparities, they need to be proactive in establishing...
Words: 491 - Pages: 2
