Eliminating Healthcare Disparities in America - Essay Example

"Eliminating Healthcare Disparities in America" is a controversial example of a paper on the health system.
The last century has seen several studies on this issue. The required measure to improve the health of the people of the nation was a matter of grave concern (Shi and Singh, 2010, p.462). In the twentieth century, the average life span of the people in the United States of America has increased by 30 years, out of which 25 years are solely due to the advancements of medicine and surgery. Still, the health status of different ethnic groups as well as race varies. This report shall delve into the health indicators which portray the reasons for the disparity and any other causes (maybe political or even economic) (Shi and Singh, 2010, p.4).

Differences in health indicators of various ethnic and racial groups in the US

The health indicators of the United States of America (US) need to be formulated for measuring the health of the public at the local, state, and national levels. These should clearly measure the health of the population as well as reduce the existent disparity. The indicators will measure the inputs (like capacity, resources), core function policies (like the public health services and practices), and the outcomes. The indicators should be drafted by the stakeholders. A panel of experienced practitioners and legal experts should be present. The plans for identifying the health indicators should be proposed, discussed, amended, and implemented. The logic model should accompany the refined indicators to remove the disparity in health in the US. Thus the US needs to embark on a journey of becoming a nation free of health disparity by 2020 (Shi and Singh, 2010, p.462).

Potential causes for these observed differences

In spite of several achievements in the US, health disparities exist between various ethnic as well as racial groups. The various reasons for the disparity if studied well will lead to the root of the problem as well as the solution. The colored people in America were treated as unfit, inadequate, undesirable, and inferior. They were deprived of most of the facilities the whites enjoyed. The psychology and the attitude of the whites were not tolerant since the very beginning. Ancient Greek mythology is proof of the suffering of the colored people in any white nation (Williams, 2008, p.4).

The achievements of the United States of America in implementing proper vaccination strategies, motor vehicle safety measures, work-place safety rules and regulations, control and eradication of various infectious diseases, restricting and treating coronary heart diseases, restricting stroke, provision of safe and healthy food facilities, maternity health facilities, child health-care facilities, family planning, drinking water safety, reducing tobacco consumption. However, in the United States, the discrimination of race and ethnicity was prevalent. Till recently the US was the only developed nation that did not comply with the rules of Universal health coverage. The WHO report places the US in the 37th place (health system) and 71 (health outcome performance) out of 191 countries. The American Indians (previously called the Red Indians) were the worst suffers from the disparity (Shi and Singh, 2010, p.4).

Conclusion:

In eliminating Health care disparities and discrimination in America, generating public consciousness is of prime importance. The very best scholars in the field of health and medicine need to join the motion. These experts can provide their expertise and experience in helping others formulate policies to be fair to one and all. Their knowledgebase can be resources for others who are involved in the process of bringing in parity in the health of different races and ethnicity of the US. The healthcare disparities need to be solved by the intervention of all the relevant national bodies (Williams, 2008, p.3).