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Healthcare disparities

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Today, one of the issues or problems in healthcare is healthcare disparities linked with

race or ethnicity. They are a series of problems that are depicted by the systematic differences in

the health status of diverse groups in the country. Furthermore, the paper shows that the

healthcare disparities observed in minor ethnic and racial groups are fueled by the implicit bias

or stereotypes that caregivers hold. Moreover, the paper offers some solutions that can be utilized

to curb the healthcare disparities, such as expanding Medicaid eligibility and allocating resources

for developing healthcare facilities in the group’s neighborhood. Another solution is

telemedicine, which can elevate access to healthcare services for individuals. On the other hand,

the implementation of telemedicine raises concerns about diverse ethical principles, including

justice and anatomy. Therefore, health disparities is one of the huge problem facing ethnic and

racial minorities, and one of the potential solutions that can be adopted is telemedicine since it

increases access to healthcare services; this solution raises some ethical principles, including

anatomy and justice.

Elements of the problems or issue

Health inequities are a series of problems that are depicted by the systematic differences

in the health status of diverse groups in the country. These health disparities have substantial

economic and social costs to both community and individuals. According to the World Health

Organization, ample evidence demonstrates that social factors such as employment status,

income, education level, ethnicity, and gender greatly influence one's health. With this in mind,

individuals from lower socioeconomic groups are at more risk of poor health. Furthermore, Riley

(2012) shows that some contributing factors to health disparities in the United States include

ethnic and racial inequities witnessed in the country. Moreover, Ndugga and Artiga (2021) show

that the disparate effects of the pandemic, the upsurge in Asian hare crimes, and the increase in
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police brutality have brought healthcare disparities into a sharp focus on the public and media.

However, it is important to note these health disparities have been documented for decades and

replicate longstanding systemic and structural inequities rooted in discrimination and racism

(Ndugga and Artiga, 2021). In addition, compared to their white counterparts, black people and

other racial or ethnic minorities have lower access to medical care due to their

underrepresentation in well-paying jobs. At the same time, many are employed and do not have

access to health insurance benefits. Hence, addressing these health disparities is instrumental in

mitigating the devastating effects of the pandemic as well as preventing the further widening of

the iniquities in the future. (Kullar et al., 2020). The following effect of these health disparities is

that there are high mortality rates, premature deaths, and chronic conditions compared to the

white counterparts.

Analysis

The healthcare inequities witnessed today in the United States are propagated by the

unequal distribution of economic, environmental, social, and other structural resources. These

resources are crucial in putting a vast clinical, financial, and human toll on societies and

communities worldwide. Since the establishment of colonial America, structural racism has been

in existence (Churchwell et al., 2020). It has translated to diverse health disparities that have

rendered black Americans vulnerable despite the pandemic. According to Kullar et al. (2020),

structural racism is defined as the totality in which communities promote racial discrimination by

mutually reinforcing inequitable systems. The results of these reinforcements promote

discriminatory values, beliefs, and resource distribution. These systems have factually

engendered racial inequities in underemployment, unemployment, educational opportunities,

housing, incarceration, transportation, and other instrumental structural determinants that act as
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fodder for disproportionate effects of healthcare conditions, including Covid 19 on ethnic and

racial minorities in the community.

Moreover, the healthcare disparities witnessed in minor ethnic and racial groups are

fueled by the implicit bias or stereotypes that caregivers hold. Reports suggest that during the

pandemic, fear of losing a source of income and limited access to medication and food in their

neighborhood potentiated disparities in exposure, hospitalization, death, and acquisition of the

Covid 19. According to Kullar et al. (2020), the cost of health disparities among ethnic and racial

minorities before the Covid 19 pandemic states amounted to a hundred billion dollars.

Furthermore, practices such as social distancing provide the World Health Organization, and the

CDC demonstrates a tangible instance of the manner in which social determinants can increase

African Americans' vulnerability during the pandemic. Such instances include financial

uncertainty, which compromises independent and stable housing to assist individuals in

preventing them from infecting one another. On the other hand, Churchwell et al. (2020) show

that African Americans suffer from a number of chronic conditions. For instance, in the United

States, black Americans are linked with a high stroke and cardiovascular disorders mortality rate.

It is estimated that the group has a 45 percent high stroke mortality and 30 percent higher

cardiovascular disease rates than White Americans (Churchwell et al., 2020). In general,

structural racism plays a key role in contributing to the health disparities witnessed today in the

United States since it focuses power on advantaged groups while devaluing individuals whose

healthcare needs are required to be improved.

Considered solution’s

Addressing today's health disparities is crucial not only from a social justice stance but

also for elevating the country's overall economic and health prosperity. According to Ndugga and
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Artiga (2021), the United States government has branded equity as a priority, and diverse

initiatives have been adopted to address health disparities majorly in response to the pandemic.

Many experts indicated that expanding Medicaid eligibility for low-income families is one of the

most probable solutions to the healthcare disparity. On the other hand, healthcare providers

should be educated on cultural competency and encouraged to utilize models such as the

staircase model to explore their biases (Ndugga and Artiga, 2021). At the same time, the federal

official should advocate for allocating resources to foster the development of healthcare facilities

and infrastructure to address healthcare inequities in these communities. Allocating more

resources will allow caregivers to provide comprehensive care services such as mental health,

pharmacy, dental care, and primary care. At the same time, with better infrastructure, individuals

will access high-quality care services which can effectively address existing health conditions

(Riley, 2012). Another potential solution to the problem is the use of telemedicine.

Solution

The solution selected to address the healthcare disparities witnessed today is

telemedicine. Today, the utility of telemedicine is becoming increasingly evident, and diverse

experts believe that it can be used to address disparities effectively (Simon and Shachar, 2021).

Telemedicine can address the healthcare disparities that exist between white people and other

minorities since it can increase access to care services. At the same time, it is important to note

that telemedicine can be utilized to address healthcare disparities since at least 80 percent of the

United States population has internet access. With this in mind, telemedicine can be utilized to

access healthcare services in rural areas (Myers, 2018). In addition, it can lower healthcare costs

since it limits transportation and other expenses.

Ethical implementation
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The ethical implication of implementing telemedicine to curb healthcare disparities is that

it promotes justice and beneficence since it elevates access to care for minority groups. The

principle of justice is demonstrated by the fact that telemedicine would allow for equal access to

care. To achieve this, stakeholders care to ensure that there is a fair distribution of technological

innovation to marginalized communities. On the other hand, the use of telemedicine can impact

the principle of autonomy since the patient would not be able to choose the caregiver who will

attend to them (Solimini et al., 2021). Further, telemedicine can elevate the risk of misdiagnosis,

violating the ethical principle of non-maleficence.

Implementation

It is important to note that telehealth allows individuals in rural areas setting access

healthcare providers at a larger healthcare facility. Hence it is instrumental in adopting strategies

that can assist the stakeholders in effectively implementing telemedicine in the communities of

minority groups. The government should provide the funds that can aid in the development of the

technology and infrastructure that can allow community members to access secure and reliable

telemedicine services. In addition, the government needs to ensure that caregivers are well-

trained to deliver healthcare services (Churchwell et al., 2020). Lastly, stakeholders in healthcare

should develop quality control measures that ensure patients receive high-quality care.

In conclusion, health disparities are still a huge problem in the United States, given that

ethnic and racial minorities are still experiencing problems such as high infant mortality rates

and chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disorders. The problem is multifaceted, with one

contributing factor being structural racism, resulting in unemployment and poor infrastructure in

some communities. However, telemedicine is one of the potential solutions since it can increase

access to healthcare services. Moreover, telemedicine presents diverse ethical implications, such
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as justice and anatomy. Finally, to effectively implement the solution, the paper shows that the

stakeholders should team up and provide infrastructures that can promote telemedicine services.
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Reference

Churchwell, K., Elkind, M. S. V., Benjamin, R. M., Carson, A. P., Chang, E. K., Lawrence, W.,

Mills, A., Odom, T. M., Rodriguez, C. J., Rodriguez, F., Sanchez, E., Sharrief, A. Z.,

Sims, M., & Williams, O. (2020). Call to Action: Structural Racism as a Fundamental

Driver of Health Disparities: A Presidential Advisory From the American Heart

Association. Circulation, 142(24). https://doi.org/10.1161/cir.0000000000000936

Kullar, R., Marcelin, J. R., Swartz, T. H., Piggott, D. A., Macias Gil, R., Mathew, T. A., & Tan,

T. (2020). Racial Disparity of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in African American

Communities. The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 222(6), 890–893.

https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiaa372

Myers, C. R. (2018). Using Telehealth to Remediate Rural Mental Health and Healthcare

Disparities. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 40(3), 233–239.

https://doi.org/10.1080/01612840.2018.1499157

Ndugga, N., & Artiga, S. (2021, May 11). Disparities in health and health care: 5 key questions

and answers. Kaiser Family Foundation; Kaiser Family Foundation.

https://www.kff.org/racial-equity-and-health-policy/issue-brief/disparities-in-health-and-

health-care-5-key-question-and-answers/

Riley, W. J. (2012). Health disparities: gaps in access, quality and affordability of medical

care. Transactions of the American Clinical and Climatological Association, 123(123),

167–172; discussion 172-4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3540621/

Simon, D. A., & Shachar, C. (2021). Telehealth to Address Health Disparities: Potential, Pitfalls,

and Paths Ahead. Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, 49(3), 415–417.

https://doi.org/10.1017/jme.2021.62
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‌Solimini, R., Busardò, F. P., Gibelli, F., Sirignano, A., & Ricci, G. (2021). Ethical and Legal

Challenges of Telemedicine in the Era of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Medicina, 57(12),

1314. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina57121314