Improving access to high quality primary health care, particularly for the uninsured and other vulnerable populations. ADHS Arizona Health Disparities Center (AHDC) is in the Arizona Department of Health Services within the Bureau of Health Systems Development and is the Federal designee for the Office of Minority Health for the State of Arizona.
Health disparities are differences and/or gaps in the quality of health and healthcare across racial, ethnic, and socio-economic groups. It can also be understood as population-specific differences in the presence of disease, health outcomes, or access to healthcare.
National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports The annual National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report is mandated by Congress to provide a comprehensive overview of the quality of health care received by the general U.S. population and disparities in care experienced by different racial and socioeconomic groups. The report is based on more than 250 measures of quality and ...
Health care disparities include differences between groups in measures such as health insurance coverage, affordability, access to and use of care, and quality of care.
Disparities in health care exist and are associated with worse health outcomes. Health care disparities occur in the context of broader inequality. There are many sources across health systems, providers, patients and managers that contribute to disparities. Bias, stereotyping, prejudice and clinical uncertainty contribute to disparities.
Health disparities also can be observed in health care access, quality, and utilization, and within the delivery of clinical care. Understanding and Addressing Health Disparities. Racial and ethnic minority populations and low SES groups, on average, are facing high rates of most chronic diseases, medical comorbidities, and other health problems.
Of all the challenges facing health care, achieving health care equity may be the most complex and daunting. Hundreds of studies have documented suboptimal care for many different patient subgroups, including racial/ethnic minorities, people with limited English proficiency, women, older adults, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and those with low health literacy.1 Health-related social needs ...
Healthcare quality assessments evaluate health systems’ effectiveness to provide patient care that is timely, affordable, and based on reliable evidence. This section of the report provides a broad portrait of U.S. healthcare to support contextual understanding of the structural factors, including societal inequities, that affect how today’s healthcare is organized, financed, and delivered.
Background The United States (U.S.) spends the highest amount on healthcare globally, at $12,434 per capita, yet experiences poor health outcomes, including lower life expectancy and higher rates of preventable mortality. With a life expectancy of 76.4 years, the U.S. lags behind other high-income countries, which have an average of 81.1 years. Health inequities, especially among marginalized ...
The National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report (NHQDR) assesses the performance of our healthcare systems and identifies areas of strengths and weaknesses, as well as disparities, for access to healthcare and quality of healthcare. Quality is described in terms of six priority areas: patient safety, person-centered care, care coordination, effective treatment, healthy living, and care ...
Disparities of Access, Use, and Barriers to Seeking Health Care Services in Arizona Med Care. 2022 Feb 1;60(2):113-118. doi: 10.1097/MLR.0000000000001665. Authors Michael Shayne ... Healthcare Disparities / statistics & numerical data* Humans Insurance Claim Review ...
SUMMARY: Healthcare inequality continues to affect millions of Americans, particularly the uninsured and underserved, by limiting access to essential medical services.The National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics (NAFC) addresses this gap by supporting over 1,400 clinics that provide free, high-quality care across a wide range of services.
Racial and ethnic disparities in hypertension are likely multifactorial related to upstream SDoH, including access to healthcare, affordable medications, low-sodium foods, and safe green spaces for physical activity. 54 Unique to Black patients, race-consciousness significantly increases diastolic blood pressure (BP), and the self-perception of ...
Overall, more than one-third of U.S. adults report they cannot access quality, affordable healthcare. Gallup and West Health surveyed 6,296 adults in late 2024 for their annual Healthcare Indices ...
Access to healthcare means having “the timely use of personal health services to achieve the best health outcomes.”1 Access to comprehensive, quality healthcare services is important for promoting and maintaining health, preventing and managing disease, reducing unnecessary disability and premature death, and achieving health equity for all Americans.2 Attaining good access to care means ...
Access to quality healthcare is a critical factor in preventing and managing mental health disorders. Disparities in healthcare access disproportionately affect marginalized communities, leading to untreated or under-treated psychiatric conditions. 1,2 Barriers such as lack of insurance, lack of transportation, and healthcare provider bias worsen these outcomes. 1
This article describes the factors contributing to ethnic health disparities and their impact on health equity in the United States. Historical examples of infectious diseases, such as smallpox, yellow fever, polio, HIV, and COVID-19, illustrate racial mortality differences that were eliminated by removing the diseases.
In addition, the NHQDR underscores shortcomings in the healthcare delivery system's capacity to deliver safe, high-quality care. In January 2022, the number of healthcare workers employed in hospitals was 2 percent lower than in January 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The U.S. healthcare system underperforms in healthcare access, quality, and cost resulting in some of the poorest health outcomes among comparable countries, despite spending more of its gross national product on healthcare than any other country in the world (Commonwealth Fund, 2021; Salmond & Echevarria, 2017).Within the United States, there are significant healthcare disparities based on ...
