Minority Healthcare Issues in the United States

Minority Healthcare Issues in the United States

Minority racial and ethnic groups in the United States have long been subject to disparities in access and deliver of healthcare services (Graham & Dietz, 2011). According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, approximately 33% of Americans self-identify themselves as being African-American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian/Pacific American, or Latino (Minority health, 2013). The Kaiser Family Foundation also emphasizes that, "Racial/ethnic background is associated with health status, health insurance coverage, and health care access and quality, with people of color consistently faring poorer on many health outcomes" (Minority health, 2013, para. 2).

Although steps have been taken to address these disparities in healthcare outcomes (Smedley, 2006), there remains a lack of consensus among policymakers concerning optimal courses of action (Minority health, 2013). Moreover, many minority members who live in rural American communities remain underserved by the medical profession (Holley, 2013). According to Holley (2013), "This shortage is particularly acute for minority rural communities lacking reliable access to minority healthcare professionals" (p. 2). These are important issues because the minority population in the United States is increasing compared to the mainstream population. For instance, Graham and Dietz (2011) report that, "By 2050, Census Bureau projections indicate U.S. Hispanic growth by 188%, Asian and Pacific Islander growth by 213%, and black population growth by 71%. These numbers constitute a significant proportion of racial and ethnic minority elders" (p. 5).

While minority members living in rural communities remain at a disadvantage compared to their mainstream counterparts, the disparity extends to urban settings as well. For example, African-American and Hispanic women have been found to be less likely than white women to be aware of their risks of breast cancer and to receive mammograms (Komen, 2003). Minority women also have shorter survival rates for breast cancer compared to white women and are less informed concerning the purposes of a mammogram (Komen, 2003). In sum, Smedley (2006) characterizes the disparities between mainstream healthcare and the healthcare services provided for minorities as "A yawning chasm of healthcare inequality [that] often significantly limits health and life opportunities for many Americans" (p. 156).

According to Graham and Dietz (2011), there is a glaring need to eliminate disparities in healthcare in the United States. In this regard, Graham and Dietz emphasize that "Eliminating disparities is critical to not only achieving health equity, but also to creating and maintaining a network of care where all older adults, regardless of race, ethnicity or socioeconomic status, are afforded the access to quality care and treated with the dignity and respect they deserve" (p. 5).

Some fresh steps that could help reduce the disparities in healthcare provision between mainstream Americans and minority members include the following: