Racial Disparities in Healthcare

Paper Summary:

The paper looks at studies that demonstrate how healthcare disparities exist in many forms and are pervasive throughout the system. The paper discusses the need for change that must come not only through the healthcare industry and physicians, but also from the communities they serve. The paper asserts that race, ethnicity and socioeconomic backgrounds should play little or no part in determining the quality of healthcare a person receives.

Outline:
Abstract
Discussion

From the Paper:

"Our purpose is to address disparities facing the healthcare industry and to offer recommendations. Most research available on these disparities analyze and quantify gaps among racial/ethnic groups instead of the differences between socioeconomic groups. Most studies specifically examine the disparities among African-American, Asian-American, Hispanic-American and white American populations, such as insurance, cultural differences, economic barriers, education and emotional responses. Studies conducted on the subject of healthcare disparities are designed to examine diagnosis and treatment outcomes and results instead of attempting to quantify patient emotional responses. Thus, accepting that healthcare disparities do exist is an initial step that has already been taken, for a congressionally-mandated National Healthcare Disparities Report outlined potential disparities and possible solutions for various aspects of this issue."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Vanderbilt, Vanessa K., Wynia, Matthew K., Gadon, Margaret, Alexander, G. Caleb. "A Qualitative Study of Physicians' Engagement in Reducing Healthcare Disparities." Journal of the National Medical Association. Vol. 99 no. 12 (December 2007).
• Blanchard, Janice, Lurie, Nicole. "R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Patient Reports of Disrespect in the Health Care Setting and Its Impact on Care." Journal of Family Practice. Vol. 53 no. 9 (September 2004).
• Walker, David R., Stern, Patricia M., and Darryl L. Landis. "Examining Healthcare Disparities in a Disease Management Population." American Journal of Managed Care. Vol 10 Part 1: 81-88 (February 2004).
• National Healthcare Disparities Report: Summary. February 2004. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/nhdr03/nhdrsum03.htm
• Key Themes and Highlights From the National Healthcare Quality Report. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. January, 2007. http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/nhqr06/highlights/nhqr06high.htm

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