The conditions in which many clinical encounters take place--characterized by high time pressure, cognitive complexity, and pressures for cost -- containment -- may enhance the likelihood that these processes will result in care poorly matched to minority patients" needs. Minorities may experience a range of other barriers to accessing care, even when insured at the same level as whites, including barriers of language, geography, and cultural familiarity. Further, financial and institutional arrangements of health systems, as well as the legal, regulatory, and policy environment in which they operate, may have disparate and negative effects on minorities" ability to attain quality care.
Much of the data regarding disparities are drawn from available literature and large national data sources, such as the U.S. Census and the National Center for Vital and Health Statistic. Where possible, data on subpopulations of racial and ethnic groups (e.g., Cuban American, Puerto Rican, Mexican American, and other subgroups of the Hispanic population) are presented. This information is supplemented, where appropriate, by qualitative data regarding the experiences of racial and ethnic minority patients and health care professionals. These data, presented in individuals" own words, are offered as a means of understanding some of patients" and providers" experiences and perceptions of how race or ethnicity may affect both care processes and the systems and settings in which care takes place. Some racial and ethnic minorities experience higher rates of chronic and disabling illnesses, infectious diseases, and mortality than white Americans. African Americans have the highest rates of morbidity and mortality of a any U.S. racial and ethnic group. The mortality rate of African Americans is approximately 1.6 times higher than that of whites.
Statistics show that minorities have greater health needs than do whites.
