Question

Which of the following are examples of problems with the health care system that contribute to health disparities? (Select all that apply.)

1. A health care provider assumes that the patient missed two appointments because the patient does not care about his or her health and does not inquire about the reasons for missed visits

2. The discharge nurse at a hospital uses Teach Back with a patient to ensure that she has communicated the discharge instructions clearly

3. A community hospital lacks an adequate staff social workers who are able to ensure patient's access to resources they need to take care of their health.

4. A hospital discharges a patient without ensuring that the patient has a primary care provider and has made a follow-up appointment

5. A nurse uses a family member as an interpreter to explain patient's medications

6. The hospital conducts quality improvement with out stratifying data by race, ethnicity, language, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and other axes of social group identities.

Answer 1

Health disparities in the U.S. healthcare system arise from assumptions about patient behaviors, inadequate access to resources, insufficient follow-up care, miscommunication due to improper use of interpreters, and lack of stratified data analysis. These disparities are further exacerbated by racism, sexism, economic inequity, and historical medical exploitation, particularly impacting African Americans.

Step-by-step explanation:

Problems with the health care system that contribute to health disparities include assumptions by health care providers about patient behaviors without inquiring into underlying causes (1), inadequate staffing of social workers in community hospitals which affects patient access to health resources (3), discharging patients without ensuring follow-up care (4), the use of family members as interpreters in health care settings which can lead to miscommunication (5), and not stratifying quality improvement data by demographic factors that can highlight disparities (6).

These issues lead to unequal treatment and outcomes in the health care system for various demographics, particularly African Americans who suffer from higher morbidity and mortality rates and other disparate health outcomes compared to White Americans.

Health disparities are influenced by various factors including racism, sexism, ageism, and heterosexism, as well as social determinants such as poverty and employment. Inequitable distribution of economic resources also affects access to health care, leading to disparities.

Historical factors, such as medical exploitation and discrimination, have contributed to mistrust within the healthcare system, particularly among African Americans. Efforts to improve trust and reduce disparities may include enhancing health education, health literacy, and culturally sensitive care that accounts for the unique experiences of diverse populations.