African American Health: Don’t be a Statistic Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and inhumane”. --Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In East Oakland as well as across the United States, minority groups are negatively affected by health care disparities. According to the Grand Rapids African American health Institute (GRAAHI) “health care disparity” means that one population group--like African Americans--has a higher frequency of illness, injury, disability, or mortality when compared to other groups. Richard Allen Williams, M.D., a clinical professor of medicine at the UCLA School of Medicine, gives the following examples: In the Veteran Affairs health system—where there are no racial differences in ability to pay—black patients who were candidates for a coronary artery bypass received the procedure 28% of the time, while whites received this benefit 50% of the time. The incidence of Medicare patients who have to undergo a foot or leg amputation due to poor management of diabetes is 6% for African Americans, but only 1.9% for whites. And according to The Center for Medicare Advocacy, High blood pressure is nearly 40% greater in African Americans than in whites. High blood pressure is a significant risk factor for coronary heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and heart failure. African Americans have higher rates of cancer and diabetes; in fact, African Americans are more likely to develop and die from cancer than any other racial or ethnic group. [American Cancer Society, Cancer Facts and Figures for African Americans 2007-2008]. Dr. Williams states that the reasons for racial disparities in the cardiovascular procedures noted above are adherence to treatment (black patients were more likely to refuse treatment); health behaviors like diet and exercise; attitudes about providers; and understanding of treatment. It’s important to note that the term “health behaviors” does not refer to individual behaviors, but rather to the result of “social determinants of health care status” (National Health Care Disparities Report (2005). For example, obesity, which is a risk factor for several chronic illnesses, is often caused by the lack of access to fresh foods. In some neighborhoods the only places to shop for food are convenience stores or small markets, which tend to carry more processed foods. The 2005 National Health Care Disparities Report states that the reasons for health care disparities include poverty, limited access (especially in rural areas), culture and trust, lack of diversity of healthcare providers, and a shortage of training of minority providers. In East Oakland, the Roots Community Health Center exists to eliminate health care disparities by providing culturally competent care in YOUR neighborhood. The services at Roots include residence-based care—coming to the place where you live; RapidCare—same-day appointments for urgent health issues; and a Medical Home, which means that you can receive all the care you require in one place—screenings, health education, mental health services, pre-employment physicals, disease management, vaccinations and virtually any type of service related to the health of you and your family. Don’t be a statistic! If you’ve been disconnected from regular health care for any of the reasons above, contact us for more information or to make an appointment. You’ll feel comfortable at Roots—your medical home. AQUIL NAJI C.O.O ROOTS COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER 9925 INTERNATIONAL BLVD STE5 OAKLAND CA 94603
Posted on: Fri, 19 Jul 2013 21:02:03 +0000
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