Racial Disparities in Cardiac Care
African-American adults are less likely to be diagnosed with coronary heart disease, but they are more likely to die from heart disease. Knowing what steps can be taken by patients, providers and the community to improve the quality of cardiac care for all American is critical to an effective and efficient health care system.
The overall health of the American population has improved over the past few decades, but all Americans have not shared equally in these improvements. Race and ethnicity influence a patient's chance of receiving many specific procedures and treatments. Identifying that disparities in care exist is important, but it is not enough. Now, researchers are also beginning to focus on why these disparities exist, which disparities actually indicate poor-quality care, and how to develop strategies to address them.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
http://www.ahrq.gov/research/disparit.htm
Key Point 1
The notion of disparities in health care is an uncomfortable subject for most of us. However, acknowledging that inequities in care may exist is the first step to improving care and achieving the best possible health care system for an increasingly diverse population. Delivering healthcare will not just save lives for some people but it’s going to save money.
Key Point 2
Improving cardiovascular care requires coordination, creativity and commitment. It is a partnership among hospitals, providers, communities, families and patients. You have to play your part to change your life and get the care you deserve.
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Resources
There are a very large number of organizations dedicated to helping people with Racial Disparities in Cardiac Care and their families and friends. This is only a partial list.
Center for Disease Control (CDC) Office of Minority Health (OMHD) | Aims to accelerate CDC’s health impact in the U.S population and to eliminate health disparities for vulnerable populations as defined by race/ethnicity, socio-economic status, geography, gender, age, disability status, risk status related to sex and gender, and among other populations identified to be at-risk for health disparities. |
The Minority Health & Health Disparities Research Center (MHRC) is a comprehensive educational, research and community outreach center focused on eliminating the health disparities of racial/ethnic minorities. | |
The mission of the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NCMHD) is to promote minority health and to lead, coordinate, support, and assess the NIH effort to reduce and ultimately eliminate health disparities. |
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