Demographics, Culture, Healthcare Cost Increases, Unequal Access, Language, Race & Ethnicity, Health Care Quality

Compelling evidence indicate that race and ethnicity correlate with persistent, and often increasing health disparities among U.S. populations. The disparities occur for a variety of reasons including unequal access to health care (including clinical and community preventive services), discrimination, language and cultural barriers (as indicated in several IOM Reports including the report on Unequal Treatment).

Eliminating racial and ethnic disparities in health will require the use of several research and planning components:

•New knowledge about the determinants of disease, causes of disparities and effective interventions for prevention and treatment;

•Collection and use of standardized data to correctly identify all high risk populations and monitor the effectiveness of health interventions targeting these groups;

•Enhanced efforts to prevent disease, promote health, and deliver appropriate care;

•Creation/expansion of culturally appropriate, community-driven approaches to identifying causes of disparities;

•Improvement in access to quality preventive and treatment services and innovative ways of working in partnership with health care systems, minority academic institutions, and local communities.

Source: “Slides for Judith.ppt”