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Communities across the United States are concentrated with poorly maintained neighborhoods that lack services for meeting basic needs, individuals living below the federal poverty line, limited access to healthy foods, individuals that lack health insurance, patients suffering from preventable diseases, and subpar performing schools. In addition to these challenges, many of these individuals suffer from multiple comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, heart failure, COPD, asthma, and the like. More times than not, these diseases are preventable with healthy lifestyle practices and can be sufficiently managed under the care of a primary care physician. Unfortunately, the majority of these patients do not seek medical care until their conditions have worsened due to a limited number of providers, long wait times for visits, difficulty scheduling appointments, inability to take time off from work, transportation barriers, as well as the lack of disease prevention resources and services. Sadly, the most common reason many do not seek care early is the lack of health insurance. Most do not reach income requirements or simply cannot afford deductibles and copayments. Although access is one hurdle to quality health care, it is not the only one. Another hurdle is the health disparities socioeconomically disadvantaged people endure. An example of this is evidenced in the podcast “How the Bad Blood Started” which briefly discusses the exclusions African Americans faced in America during segregation. However,change-makers such as Rebecca Lee Crumpert and Montegue Cobb were determined to improve healthcare. Dr. Crunpert’s dedication to the healing and education of hundreds of African American patients and Dr. Montegue’s advocacy and creation of the NMA served as catalysts to implement change. Although much progress has been made with desegregation laws, health care policy, and various regulations, healthcare disparities are alarmingly high within our healthcare system because many fail to uphold the oath they make upon entry into the medical field. Even recently, an African American physician, Dr. Susan Moore complained of receiving inadequate medical care at the hands of racist medical staff. We need to change this, if not, many innocent people will die at the hands of those who swear to care for them. Professionalism is a great start for this change because it entails Physicians embodying the highest form of competence, honesty, morality, respect, and accountability. We have come a long way, however, we are nowhere near our destination. The third hurdle is patients’ decision not following up with their providers. Primary care physicians are responsible for providing comprehensive care to patients through the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic conditions. Primary care physicians can improve the health of the population, help to keep emergency room visits low as well as decrease the number of hospitalizations. According to the article entitled, “Primary Care Is Integral To Improving U.S. Healthcare, But Is Falling Further Behind” unfortunately, not many people follow up with their primary care physicians as often as they should. The COVID 19 pandemic has caused even more patients to refrain from attending their primary care visits in fear of contracting the Corona Virus. To effectively increase population health improvement, I believe investments should be made in all venues relating to health care delivery, particularly Community Health Centers. I believe Community Health Centers would best address the ‘met’ and ‘unmet’ health needs of our U.S. population. For one, these facilities reduce health disparities. Secondly, Community Health Centers also provide highly efficient and cost-effective care, generating billions in savings for the health care system annually. Many patients are hesitant to see their doctor due to long wait times, but community health centers tend to increase access to timely primary care. Community Health Centers also deliver the majority of the screenings, procedures, and other health services hospitals do. Community Health Centers can reduce health disparities, and even provide services such as transportation, case management, and health education which would encourage patients to return.The journey to great healthcare is not easy, but the progress continues.

Over the past forty years, life expectancy has increased significantly. This longevity is indebted to reductions in infectious diseases among infants and children, improvements in public health efforts, advancements in medical technology, and the amelioration of living standards and hygiene. Increased life expectancy is a remarkable accomplishment, however, it is overshadowed by the perpetuation of health disparities that restrict one’s access to adequate healthcare. Many elderly Americans have multiple comorbidities and as a result, require substantial medical attention. Unfortunately, race, poverty, and substandard education are a few of the barriers that deprive these elderly individuals of the care they need. The health disparities disadvantaged elderly individuals face not only impact their quality of life but also have an adverse effect on their caregivers and society as a whole. The article entitled, “Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health and Mortality Among the U.S. Elderly Population,” documents the health and mortality disparities among elderly Americans. This research demonstrates the fact that education and income differences across groups continue to play an important part in the overall worse health of African Americans, Native Americans, and to a lesser degree, Hispanics in comparison to Caucasians and the Asian Pacific Island population. Disparate patterns of older adult health and mortality among racial/ethnic groups come about because of the varying demographic, social, economic, behavioral, and health and health care experiences of these groups over many years (Hummer, 2004). Drastic improvements are needed to ensure disadvantaged elderly receive the health maintenance they deserve. One major change that can help us improve healthcare for the elderly is the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010. This bill adds certain preventive services to Medicare, including cancer screenings and immunizations which have been proven to prevent disease, help to detect disease early, and lead to more effective treatment (Hickling, 2012). As I was completing this blog post, I released that there was no extensive research on the health disparities affecting the elderly. The article entitled, “Understand Health Disparities Related to Aging and Develop Strategies to Improve the Health Status of Older Adults in Diverse Populations,” suggests the development and implementation of strategies to promote active life expectancy and improve the health status of older adults in diverse populations, increase inclusion of underrepresented populations in aging research, and the encouragement of research to understand sex and gender differences in health and disease at older ages, as possible solutions that would improve the health of the disadvantaged elderly (Hodes, 2020). The health of disadvantaged elderly is equally important as that of all other demographics, therefore increased research methods, implementation of new policies, and changes regarding the treatment they receive need to be made.

According to the World Health Organization, “The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition.” Unfortunately, this constitution is not always honored by national and global healthcare systems and providers. Oftentimes, unethical determinants justified by fatuous stereotypes and biases are used to place restrictions on one’s quality of health. Health disparities not only endanger the patient’s life but also adversely affects their family dynamic, diminishes economic security, leads to the spread of infectious disease, amongst several other negative repercussions. The eradication of health disparities may seem like an unachievable goal, however, the journey to abate health disparities is in progress. Thus far, the journey involves research, policy, and action. The conduction of research is paramount in dismantling an oppressive healthcare system as new data can be used to understand, predict, prevent, and control health inequalities. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has been advancing health disparities research in public health through the creation of a peer-reviewed journal, Preventing Chronic Disease (PCD). This collection of articles promote content that elucidates a worldwide understanding of health disparities and determinants linked to disparate health outcomes (Jones, 2018). In this journal, an article entitled, “Pathways Between Childhood/Adolescent Adversity, Adolescent Socioeconomic Status, and Long-term Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Young Adulthood,” examines new insights into the relationship between county-level income inequality, poverty, and obesity prevalence across New York State. Researchers found that higher income inequality was associated with lower obesity rates and that higher percentages of poverty were associated with higher obesity rates (Jones, 2018). Research promotes dialogue among researchers, practitioners, and policymakers worldwide on the integration and application of research findings and practical experience to improve population health. Collaborative efforts dedicated to the creation and implementation of policies intended to encourage health equity is another crucial step to the eradication of health disparities. However, the efficacy of these policies should be monitored to ensure underprivileged populations receive the benefits they deserve. In the article entitled, “Health Disparities and Health Equity: Concepts and measurement,” the author emphasized the importance of public health surveillance. Disparities should be investigated in all aspects of health care, including the allocation of resources for health care, the actual receipt (utilization) of services, their quality, and how they are financed, particularly with respect to the burden of payment on individuals or households (Braveman, 2006). Health equity can be most effectively guaranteed if practiced by healthcare providers. A Practitioner’s Guide for Advancing Health Equity is a resource for public health practitioners working to advance health equity through chronic disease-focused community health efforts. Although this guide is simply an approach to advancing health equity and does not encompass all of the solutions to fix healthcare, it is a helpful start. All human beings deserve equal access and quality of health care. Research, policies, and action are a great start, however, much more needs to be done to achieve meaningful change.

I am an aspiring physician who desires to provide comprehensive medical care to patients of all races, ethnicities, genders, and socioeconomic backgrounds, particularly those who are disadvantaged and underserved. This desire emerges from the summation of my personal experiences. These experiences enkindled my yearning to become a physician. I want to spend my life devoting my knowledge and best efforts to improve patients' health by diagnosing and treating them. I am aware that other fields make significant contributions to medicine, however, most severe cases are managed by physicians. I want to use the skills I would possess as a physician, both here in America and through volunteer work globally, to ensure everyone receives the adequate health care they deserve, regardless of socioeconomic barriers. My clinical experiences in underserved and disadvantaged communities have taught me that certain illnesses commonly afflict the health of those who are victims of poverty. Although poverty may be the greatest barrier to good health care, it is not the only one. Unfortunately, implicit racial and ethnic biases amongst health care providers contribute to the health disparities people of color experience. As an immigrant, minority, and socioeconomically disadvantaged individual, I hope to help fill cultural gaps between providers and patients, which can oftentimes affect the quality of care a patient receives. Having the ability to help improve patient outcomes for people of color is crucial to eradicating gaps within the healthcare system. I am hopeful that the mitigation of disparities will lead to improved standards of health for all. Because healthcare is dynamic, I want to be able to keep up with all of the changes in hopes of minimizing the challenges and offering valuable solutions. I am currently pursuing my MBA to better understand the business of healthcare, beyond the expertise of medicine. I desire to gain a deeper understanding of health insurance, comprehend the complexities of healthcare policies, and most importantly learn about methods that can improve socioeconomically disadvantaged patients’ access to it.By offering intelligent advice, displaying wise leadership, providing managerial advice, and offering helpful solutions to hospital managers and physicians, I can help improve the quality of care a patient receives. With my MBA, I am hoping to help bridge the gap between physicians, patients, and hospital managers.