Substandard health care for minorities?

Nurses General Nursing

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I thought this article was rather disturbing. Comments?

(You have to register with the NY times to view the article, but registration is free).

Specializes in Everything except surgery.
Originally posted by nurs4kids

Renee,

I agree 100% that as medical people, we should care for ALL. If "Donald Trump" is held responsible for all the "have-nots", then sooner or later, ole' Donald becomes a "have-not". If that's the case, then the desire to have is lost and we become a country composed entirely of "have-nots". I also believe that God expects everyone to make an attempt to help self before relying on Him or others to help. ;)

I agree wtih you here nurs4kids...I also believe God wants everyone to make an effort to support themselves and their famillies...if all things were equal...but they aren't! The are as many reasons for people being poor, uneducated and without the ability to sustain themselves. But being a minority doesn't not in itself mean...that they're poor, uneducated and in fear of the healthcare system. There ARE differences in access to healthcare of treatment of minorities...whether anyone wants to acknowledge it or not. Racism raises it's ugly head in many forms...and healthcare is not immuned. Anyone who doesn't believe that it doesn't exist in healthcare...IMHO...have either turned a blind eye...or just have been fortunate not to see if for themselves...:) I don't mean to say in anyway...that there are many who deliberately provide less or unequal care...but prejudices do exist...and they affect how some people deal and see others...IMHO..;)

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Specializes in Everything except surgery.
Originally posted by nurs4kids

As usual, Renee, you spoke my exact thoughts with MUCH more eloquence than I could muster. Redneck and eloquence just do not mix ;)

thanks

Hey nurs4kids...YOU ain't doing so bad ya know....in fact you're making you're case pretty good in my book..:cool:

So let me say I agree with you ...totally .with your last post...100%!

And yes...I worked in B'ham for the first agenciy that hired LPNs to work home health care...doing visits. The company was Home Health Inc....and they were in business before ABC opened their office. Not sure if either is still in business now. Our office was in Vestavia Hills...right down the street from a High School...forget the name though...but we were on Columbiana Drive I think it was....not sure of sp?? I think one of my areas was called mountainview...and I had Irondale...just before coming into B'ham off I-20. I also covered Bessemer at times on the weekends... but mostly right around Irondale...and several of the rurual areas out that way.. Just can't remember the names.:confused: I had a home in Alexandria...which is a rural town between Anniston and Gasden..This was from 88'-92'..

:cool:

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I just don't get why we have money for the other crap our government pays for, but people think that we can't afford to continue with health care for all. I wanna know why the gov't can WASTE sooooooo much on crap, but won't put the money that is needed into health care? It's like the girl Tracy talked about paying for hair, but not insurance. DUMB!!!

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Fergus,

hear, hear!!

Isn't it the same in every country?

At least here in Austria and in Holland, people are health-care-insured, no matter what.

(from your monthly paycheck, automatically health-insurance and federal-taxes, pension- and "out of work" insurance, is pulled off. How much depends on your brutto-income. This is a federal thing too)

But even now, our government is thinking very loud to buy new jets for the military. (Austria has 10 jets or something, they are 20 years old now)

These things would cost so much, incredable!! And what for? just to look better international? So other countries can say, wow look at those Austrians!! B...s..t!!

OK, I am not known for my military-friendness, because I think it is (in my case) useless.

Take care, Renee

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I think the survey if quite accurate regarding minorities recieving substandard health care and it really should not be suprising. If one will take off the blinders and look and see it's just a reflection of our society in general.

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I think the survey was a quite accurate reflection of our society in general.

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Specializes in LDRP; Education.
Originally posted by nurs4kids

Renee,

I agree 100% that as medical people, we should care for ALL. If "Donald Trump" is held responsible for all the "have-nots", then sooner or later, ole' Donald becomes a "have-not". others to

EXCELLENT point Tracy. That is my biggest fear.

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Specializes in Everything except surgery.
Originally posted by lockrn51

I think the survey if quite accurate regarding minorities recieving substandard health care and it really should not be suprising. If one will take off the blinders and look and see it's just a reflection of our society in general.

AMEN...AMEN again lockrn51....ABSOLUTELY CORRECT!!!

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Based on the implication of this report, the way patients are treated boils down to how they are perceived...

And whether its racial, socio-economic, or even gender bias, what it ammounts to is how the providers perceive "HEALTHCARE"...

Is it a "right" for everyone to receive equal, adequate, and competent care? Or, is it a business whereby the consumer "gets what he pays for"?

Unfortunately, in America healthcare is an Industry... from medical suppliers, pharmaceuticals, hospital organizations, insurance, all the way down the line... It's all about $$$$.

I believe that our country is already overburdened with laws dictating our lives, however I also beleive that EVERYONE deserves access to equal, adequate, and competent care...

So, how do we bridge the gap between what is ethically "right", and what is financially fair? It won't happen under our current healthcare system. How many of you can honestly say that your healthcare costs and level of service from your providers have improved in the last 5 years? Even those of us with good healthcare benefits, pay more every year, and get less for it... So just imagine how much more that level of care must have declined for these "have nots"...

Healthcare is a HUGE social issue in America, and something will have to drastically change before it gets better...

George

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Specializes in Everything except surgery.
Originally posted by wrightgd

Based on the implication of this report, the way patients are treated boils down to how they are perceived...

And whether its racial, socio-economic, or even gender bias, what it ammounts to is how the providers perceive "HEALTHCARE"...

Is it a "right" for everyone to receive equal, adequate, and competent care? Or, is it a business whereby the consumer "gets what he pays for"?

Unfortunately, in America healthcare is an Industry... from medical suppliers, pharmaceuticals, hospital organizations, insurance, all the way down the line... It's all about $$$$.

I believe that our country is already overburdened with laws dictating our lives, however I also beleive that EVERYONE deserves access to equal, adequate, and competent care...

So, how do we bridge the gap between what is ethically "right", and what is financially fair? It won't happen under our current healthcare system. How many of you can honestly say that your healthcare costs and level of service from your providers have improved in the last 5 years? Even those of us with good healthcare benefits, pay more every year, and get less for it... So just imagine how much more that level of care must have declined for these "have nots"...

Healthcare is a HUGE social issue in America, and something will have to drastically change before it gets better...

George

Go George!!! What a POWERFUL post!!! :) ..:)

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Specializes in Community Health Nurse.

HERE YE, HERE YE, HERE YE... COME ONE, COME ALL....:)

I propose that we adopt a plan similar to Canadas healthcare plan, only better! ;)

If we look at Healthcare as a 'business', then the Healthcare Business needs much correction and attention because it is NOT servicing people correctly, nor nearly enough in the right ways.

If we look at Healthcare as an absolute MUST for everyone regardless of their ability to pay or not, then it shouldn't be treated like a business.

So, I propose our government deduct the exact same amount of money from every wage earners paycheck for health care across the board, whereas we would all receive the very same healthcare benefits...not better, not worse than the other...this would eliminate the prejudices in the healthcare market. Everyone would receive the same healthcare, and no one would be seen as receiving better this or better that based on their income.

Now, for the non wage earners, they should be assisted to find gainful employment so they can receive healthcare, but until that time, they should still be given the healthcare they need through community hospitals and community health departments because NO ONE should go without healthcare.

We do need to see to it that every person is gainfully employed in this country, so instead of buying another ba-zillion dollar jet, apply that money to a program that would work on eliminating the unemployment in this country so every man and woman can work somewhere, doing something, to contribute to what they receive in return. :kiss

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Specializes in Everything except surgery.
Originally posted by Renee Williams

HERE YE, HERE YE, HERE YE... COME ONE, COME ALL....:)

NO ONE should go without healthcare.

We do need to see to it that every person is gainfully employed in this country, so instead of buying another ba-zillion dollar jet, apply that money to a program that would work on eliminating the unemployment in this country so every man and woman can work somewhere, doing something, to contribute to what they receive in return. :kiss

:chuckle:...or before buying a $30 or $50,000 dollar toilet...or hammer...or some other such unnecessary expense!

And to stop paying for studies upon studies of such inane stuff as whether or not ketchup is a vegetable..:chuckle

:cool:

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