The Hidden Inequity in Health Care, Essay Example

Introduction

Through my experiences, I have learned that all persons have the right to obtain equal access to healthcare services, as healthcare is a basic human right. However, I have realized that not all healthcare providers believe that all patients have the same right, as some are ignored or are not treated at the same level as other patients. This is highly disturbing and promotes a culture of inequality within the healthcare system that is difficult to overcome (Starfield, 2011). I believe unequal access to healthcare and inequality are the most important problems within the system today because they impact millions of people. Therefore, I believe that these factors play an important role in how patients are treated by the different providers. This requires an important understanding of the obstacles that are observed in healthcare practice and how these play a role in shaping quality of care for all patients.

Analysis

Although healthcare is deemed a basic human right, this does not appear to be the case, as other factors limit these behaviors, as patients are not treated equally. Some of my prior experiences support this belief, as I witnessed these inequalities firsthand and could not do anything about it. It was difficult to sit idly by and watch these behaviors, but I was not in a position to take action. Therefore, I moved forward with the knowledge that these experiences were unfair and poorly managed.

In the era of affordable care for all, inequality remains a serious problem (Davis & Walter, 2011). I also believe this to be the case and continue to struggle with my own conscience in some areas where healthcare practice is less than adequate for the needs of a given patient population. The number of disparities that exist in healthcare practice demonstrate this inequality on many levels, as there are difficult challenges that continue to pose a threat to the integrity of the healthcare system (Isaac et.al, 2012). In particular, racial disparities remain significant and pose a real threat to the integrity and overall health status of many minorities (Cook et.al, 2012). I believe that there are critical needs to consider in the treatment of all persons so that racial disparities are minimized as best as possible (Cook et.al, 2012).

I am able to apply some of the principles of this unit to my past experiences and now have a better understanding of some of the issues that took place and why they occurred. This has opened new doors regarding my need to improve the lives of all patients, regardless of their race or culture, and to seek opportunities to provide all persons with access to healthcare services as necessary. I believe that this is a basic and fundamental right that all persons should have, and it supports my understanding of new strategies to improve the lives of my patients that do not emphasize inequality in any way. Rather, my focus is on equality and on achieving greater quality of care for those who need it the most, such as disadvantaged populations. However, I am not confident that the healthcare system is on the same page, as there are clear disparities that are often ignored in favor of other activities for those persons who have access to insurance and other opportunities. This is an unfair advantage that goes against the key principles involving adequate healthcare access for all persons.

Conclusion

My experience to date has been unique and satisfying on many levels, and it has contributed to my improved understanding of this unit. However, we have a long way to go in the development of new methods that will attract new opportunities to serve all persons equally who require access to healthcare services. This is a serious and continuing problem that requires further evaluation and discussion. This will support the development of new procedures to ensure that patient care outcomes are equal for all persons.

References

Cook, B. L., McGuire, T. G., & Zaslavsky, A. M. (2012). Measuring racial/ethnic disparities in health care: methods and practical issues. Health services research, 47(3pt2), 1232-1254.

Davis, M. M., & Walter, J. K. (2011). Equality-in-quality in the era of the affordable care act. JAMA, 306(8), 872-873.

Isaac, L. A., & LaVeist, T. A. (2012). Defining health and health care disparities and examining disparities across the life span. Race, Ethnicity, and Health: A Public Health Reader, 11.

Starfield, B. (2011). The hidden inequity in health care. Int J Equity Health, 10(1), 15.