There have been major strides in the healthcare sector. Irrespective of this improvement, differences continue to exist among the racial and minority groups. The Blacks are the minority group in the State. In Florida, there have been differences between the blacks and other groups regarding the access of health care services. Health care services are important in treating diseases, reducing pain, increasing the quality of life and facilitating medical prognosis. Health care utilization has evolved as a result of changes in the peoples’ need for care over time.
There are various disparities in the quality of health care services obtained by different groups. The blacks receive inferior care compared to the other groups residing in the State. The Black adults aged sixty five years and over are mishandled compared to the adult aged between 18 years and 44 years. The disparities are evident for at least 40% of the services. In addition, the poor people receive inferior health care compared to high-income individuals in almost half of the measures. The disparities are also common, especially among the Blacks in Florida.
The access to healthcare services involves facilitators and barriers to quality health care utilization. They are mostly defined by race, ethnicity, income, and availability of health insurance, language barrier and the source of health care service. In 2009, almost 83% of the population in Florida who were below the age of sixty five years had health insurance. However, a significant percentage of the blacks under sixty five years of age were less likely to have the health insurance.
It was indicated that 86% of the population in Florida had access to a specific source of ongoing care by 2009. The percentage of the people with a specific ongoing care was actually lower for the Blacks. Similarly, the percentage of the black people with access to ongoing healthcare source was low for the poor in comparison to high income individuals. In addition, black people with less than high school education hardly accessed a specific source of ongoing care.
Language barriers in the health sector are correlated to reduced quality of care and safety. Also, patient and clinician satisfaction contribute to health disparities among individuals with health insurance. The Blacks mostly use different languages other than English. On the other hand, those patients who use other languages at home were likely to report a poor communication with both nurses and doctors. For instance, black adults received more language assistance in the usual source of health care than other groups in Florida. Similarly, black patients with less than high school education required translation as opposed to those with college education.
There are several areas where the state of disparities is worsening. For instance, unequal treatments mostly revolve around the blacks and between the poor and high-income populations. Maternal and child deaths are high among the black populations residing in Florida State. During a certain period, breast cancer was diagnosed per 100,000 women aged forty years and over among the Blacks. Moreover, blacks’ poor people without a usual source of ongoing care indicated a financial or health insurance reason.
There are a few improvements of reduced inequalities in the provision of quality care. The gap between black adults aged sixty five years compared to those aged between 18years and 40years improved with the introduction of quality measures. Other related inequalities to ethnicity, race or income indicated a significant improvement in services delivered. For instance, the gap between Blacks and rich individuals who had access to quality services decreased.
There are forces that influence overall health care utilization. Firstly, there are public health and sanitation advances such as quality of standards for food and water. Secondly, the growing Black elderly population is faced with functional limitations, illnesses, and loss of lives. Thirdly, there is decreased supply in the numbers of medical personnel. Therefore, better understanding of the risk factors and prevention initiatives is necessary.
The various health care services available to the Blacks include; home care, hospitals, health centers, nursing homes and community care. There were initiatives towards advancing home care in Florida. The home care workers provide important preventive care. Hospitals and community health centers have personnel trained to increase the health and well-being of people. In addition, health care providers train Blacks community health workers in prevention and management of diseases.
Poor people in the state are provided with health payment credit. However, the Blacks in the State are not enjoying the benefit. This privilege is available for people with incomes that lie between 100% and 400%.It excludes individuals whose salaries are between 43560 and 89401 dollars.
Health services are crucial across all groups in the society. The demand for quality services is higher in the modern times. However, the differences based on ethnicity and race continues to exist. Therefore, it is important to address the disparities in order to benefit all persons.
Works Cited;
Anderson, Norman B, Rodolfo A. Bulatao, and Barney Cohen. Critical Perspectives on Racial and Ethnic Differences in Health in Late Life. Washington, D.C: National Academies Press, 2004. Print.
Smedley, Brian D, Adrienne Y. Stith, and Alan R. Nelson. Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care. Washington, D.C: National Academy Press, 2003. Print.
