Discussion with Dr. Joanna Jackson; Health Care Management Professor and former Nurse and Client Specialist.
1. My first question is what is your view on the healthcare system of the United States?
So, unfortunately, I have a very, um, how do I put this nicely? I don't look, I look a little poorly on it. Um, that it is for the privileged. It's not for people who are underprivileged. Um, even the way doctors appointments are set up, you have to be able to go between nine and five. And if you're hourly or if you're a low wage worker, you can't afford to take off and they change appointments and all, you know, now they're using tele-health, which is not accessible to everyone. Um, so I love being in healthcare, but our healthcare system is flawed severely.
2. With that question, What disparities do you see that affect African-Americans to obtain affordable health care?
Man? How much time do you have? So there are a lot of things that I think are just like built-in to healthcare. And I think when we talk about institutionalized racism, we frequently forget about healthcare being an institution and being one that was even founded, um, by racist and, uh, have, has a lot of racism just embedded in it that people aren't aware of. Um, so some, some really important disparities are, one is just access. You find a lot of, um, primary care offices and well-to-do neighborhoods are inaccessible for people. Um, and, and I would say purposefully so placed in places that are sometimes difficult to reach through public transport. Um, can't necessarily walk there. They're frequently in well-to-do neighborhoods, which immediately eliminates access or decreases access for, um, not just, um, black people, but people who are, um, uh, in poverty or just, um, not well to do coffee this morning.Apparently I think, I think like the location itself is a problem. Um, also what services are offered, where is definitely a problem. Um, rural health is a problem, especially in areas like this, where you have a larger share of blacks than you might in the Midwest or the North or the West. And even though we know that it's disproportionate, like it's just difficult for them to access it in general. Um, if you're, this is the stroke belt and the heart attack belt and the diabetes and the obesity belt, and you have all of these, um, facilities to help and treat, but they're nowhere near these communities.
3. Do you think that we should have enough or more freedom, more affordable healthcare for low income families?
People should never have to choose between paying their light bill or buying an epi pen for their child. I mean, that's absolutely disturbing. Um, and if you even use COVID as an example, right. Um, so if people started with people over 70 can get their vaccine, well, the average lifespan of a black man is barely 70. So that, uh, so if we're saying that some people should get it right. We people over 70 are at higher risk. Um, then why can't we say that for black people, right? If you're black, you're at a higher risk of who you should move up on the list. So we understand that there's all these things that determine your health, even if you take re rates out, but they never, so they want to control the incentive, spirometer and race adjusted, but they don't control other things. And race adjusted for us cost of care should probably be lower because a lot of our health issues are related to systemic racism, um, in the society anyway. So why do we have to pay the same when a lot of our illnesses are because the government is absolutely crazy. And I probably sound like a conspiracy theorist. Not because I get mad about it.
Why is topic so important?
When the vital topic discussion on the United States Healthcare System and the disparities to have free healthcare for minorities especially for the African American community comes up, people must first ask the question why are black people sicker, and why do they die earlier, than other racial groups? Many factors likely contribute to the increased morbidity and mortality among black people. It is undeniable, though, that one of those factors is the care that they receive from their providers. Black people simply are not receiving the same quality of health care that their white counterparts receive, and this second-rate health care is shortening their live
In the United States, there are significant racial disparities in access to health coverage and health outcomes. Minorities are far more likely to be uninsured in America, due in part to several states’ refusal to expand Medicaid and Medicare. Fourteen states have refused to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, which is one of the reasons why minorities are disproportionately likely to be uninsured today. This includes some of the states with the largest populations of African Americans. Also according to a study done by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, U.S.-born African Americans disproportionately suffer worse mental health, cardiovascular outcomes and are at greater risk for having low-birth-weight infants, have worse access to care, and receive poorer quality of care, especially on measures as related to person-centeredness and care coordination than any other race and that's a problem. However, African Americans are not the only minorities that face racial disparities in the healthcare system. Hispanics, when compared to whites, appear to have lower levels of health insurance coverage too. African Americans and Hispanics are also more likely than whites to receive care in emergency rooms and to lack continuity in the healthcare system. According to a study done by the Agency for Healthcare and Quality, the Health of Hispanics is influenced by many factors, including language, lack of access to preventive care, lack of health insurance, and other cultural barriers. Hispanics have a higher prevalence of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, HIV/AIDS, suicide, liver disease, and a higher rate of obesity.
The topic is important to the African American community and other minority groups because we have to address unique challenges and perspectives, including the pervasive impacts of racism, which must be included in health reform efforts. An important social factor leading to poor health outcomes and economic disadvantage among African Americans is racism, because not only is it a stressor, but it impacts who gets what in America, particularly health care. Certain social factors also referred to as social determinants of health, have important implications for health risk and the ability to attain health insurance coverage. Poverty, income inequality, wealth inequality, food insecurity, and the lack of safe, affordable housing are just a few.
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