ETHNIC DISPARITIES

Ethnic Disparities

It is clear, with regard to the healthcare of Americans, that the haves and have-nots are often defined by ethnic backgrounds. Now a major medical organization has issued new guidelines to help correct the problem of ethnic disparities in healthcare.

The American College of Physicians calls the disparities in the health care of racial and ethnic minorities a major problem in the U.S. health system. Given the fact that the proportion of minority groups within the U.S. population continues to grow, the problem is only going to get bigger.

Dr. Jill Rabin has seen first hand how the ethnic disparities in healthcare play out for patients. She works at a prenatal clinic at Long Island Jewish Medical Center designed to narrow the divide between the haves and have-nots. Dr. Rabin says, "“We have children going to bed hungry, children without health care."” According to the American College of Physicians, minorities tend to have less access to healthcare and lower quality health care than non-minorities. That’s why the ACP has issued a call for action to address the problem of ethnic disparities in healthcare.

Dr. Charles Francis is President of the New York Chapter of the American College of Physicians. He says, "“Factors like poverty, residential segregation, lack of health insurance are responsible for the ethnic disparities in healthcare." So there are a large number of different factors but taken all together explain these wide disparities.”

Dr. Francis believes there is a clear bias in some areas against minorities, but probably these are not conscious, intentional acts. And he says "ethnic disparities in healthcare are not the only issue. “There are also differences in health care seeking behavior, and patients’ preferences in terms of accepting medical advice."” Part of the problem is that minorities make up 28 percent of the U.S. population but only 3 percent of medical school faculties. And many of them are at predominantly black universities.

"“In order to really address ethnic disparities in healthcare we really need to focus on access to care. We need to focus on health insurance, and make sure that people have the ability to pay for care",” states Dr. Francis. To tackle ethnic disparities in healthcare the ACP also calls for more doctors to work in underserved areas of the country through services such as the National Health Services Corps and through minority faculty fellowships. Better access to interpreters and those who will take the time to explain aspects of care is another key target.

"“Illiteracy is a huge problem. Often times it’s the child that can read better than the parent",” states Dr. Rabin. “We have to fight ethnic disparities in healthcare. We can do better and we have to do better for the future of this country.”