| Minorities
Receive Lower Quality Healthcare
In
1999, Congress requested that the Institute of Medicine (IOM),
conduct a study to assess disparities in the kinds and quality
of healthcare received by racial and ethnic minorities and non
minorities.
The stated purpose of this study was to assess the extent
of racial and ethnic differences in health care that are not
otherwise attributable to ability to pay or insurance coverage
and to evaluate potential sources of racial and ethnic disparaties
including the role of bias, discrimination and stereotyping.
The IOM reported its findings in the 2002 report titled "Unequal
Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Healthcare."
According to the report, some of the strongest and most consistent
evidence of racial and ethnic disparities in care is found
in studies of cardiovascular care. The study reports that
African-American men and women were treated significantly
less than whites with coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
African-American patients were also one third less likely
to receive cardiovascular services as whites. Moreover, white
patients were 50% more likely to receive thrombolytics than
black patients. Black patients also waited longer than white
patients for their first EKG.
In a study of racial disparities in cancer care, the charts
of 7,781 women treated for breast cancer in 107 hospitals
were reviewed. This study showed that African-American women
were less likely than white women to receive a prognostic
test, were less likely to receive radiation therapy in combination
with radical/modified mastectomy, and were less likely to
receive rehabilitation support services following mastectomy.
In another larger study of 20,000 colorectal cancer patients,
it was found that African-Americans were 41% less likely than
whites to receive a major procedure fro treatment of colorectal
cancer.
In the area of kidney transplants, several studies were consistent
in finding that African-American patients are less likely
to be judged as appropriate for transplantation, are less
likely to appear on transplantation waiting lists, and are
less likely to undergo transplantation procedures, even after
patients' insurance status and other factors are considered.
African-Americans with HIV infection are less likely to receive
antiretroviral therapy, less likely to receive prophylaxis
for pneumocystic pneumonia, and are less likely to receive
protease inhibitors than non-minorities with HIV.
Many other areas of medicine revealed similiar disparities.
In a study of racial differences in total knee arthroplasty
among older adult patients, a study concluded that African-Americans
were less likely than whites to receive total knee arthroplasty(1.5-2.0
for women and 3.0 to 5.1 for men). Similiar disparities were
found in the areas of cerebrovascular disease, prenatal and
child delivery and lumbar spine treatment.
The study concludes that the healthcare workforce and its
ability to deliver quality care for racial and ethnic minorities
can be improved substantially by increasing the proportion
of underrepresented racial and ethnic minorities among health
professionals. In addition, both patients and healthcare providers
could benefit from education. Cross cultural curricula should
be integrated early into the training of future healthcare
providers.
The Cochran Firm - Dallas, L.L.P.
Turtle Creek Centre, Suite 1400
3811 Turtle Creek Boulevard
Dallas, Texas
75219
phone:
214.651.4260
| fax: 214.651.4261
Edward H. Moore is Board Certified, Personal Injury Trial Law. Unless otherwise noted, not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
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