Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Report Reveals Disparate Care for Minorities and the Poor
The 2009 National Healthcare Disparities Report (NHDR), funded and presented by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), has proven what many patient advocates have been saying for years: there are disparities in the level of treatment given to certain groups throughout the nation. Common causes of unequal medical care include:
- Limited access to facilities
- Biases of medical providers against minorities, the elderly or the poor
- Inadequate communication between providers and patients
- Patients not having the knowledge or initiative to be "health literate"
The report's findings address several essential concerns of healthcare watchdog groups, including:
- There are proven disparities in treatment affecting some ethnic and socioeconomic groups across America
- The uninsured segment of the population is treated with a much lower standard of care than those carrying health insurance
- Many of the disparities seen in this report have been noted for years and have not been significantly improved
- Some disparate treatment, particularly that provided to patients suffering from cancer, heart failure, AIDS and pneumonia, can be fatal
Who Suffers the Most from Substandard Care?
On the whole, the poor (regardless of ethnicity, race or cultural background), received a significantly lower quality of care than those earning higher incomes. This is due not only to their inability to pay for treatment, but also the relatively low number of medical providers in less prosperous neighborhoods. Advancements have been seen in health care given to the poor and/or uninsured in recent years, but there is still room for substantial improvement.
A lower standard of care is not only detrimental to individual patients in the short-term, but it weakens the overall healthcare system, resulting in higher rates of preventable disease and premature death, as well as more medical malpractice cases. If you received substandard care that led to illness, injury or disability, or you lost a loved one for the same reason, you should consult an experienced medical malpractice attorney in your area to learn more about your rights and options.
