The case study of the doctor in the sleep study clinic represents issues with health disparities, race, poverty/socioeconomic class, ethnicity and culture. The doctor clearly puts his own needs first as well as remains at the job due to its proximity to family and friends. He put his own needs before those of his patients. He appeared more helpful/professional to patients he could relate to or those who had “good” insurance. Dr. Williams did not allow for patients to self-select their race, rather he decided for them based on stereotypes known related to where a person was from, the color of their skin, their way of dressing and/or their actions/accent. Dr. Williams suffers from prejudice …show more content…
Low income and/or minority patients are less likely to receive preventative care due to lack of adequate insurance (medical coverage) and language barrier issues. Abuse, violence and alcohol and/or drug use/abuse is less likely to be discussion topics by doctors when caring for minority groups. Refugees from Sudan are less likely to receive/administer accurate full doses of prescribed medications due to history of shortages and/or limited health care. Spiritual powers and religious practices and beliefs shape how many cultures supplement their medical care. Complementary alternative medicines are used in many countries in place of western medical care. There are many factors that go into health care regarding cultural practices and …show more content…
According to the Healthy People 2020 initiative, communication’s role seeks to: support shared decision-making between patients and providers, build social support networks, deliver accurate, accessible, and actionable health information that is targeted or tailored, facilitate the meaningful use and exchange of health information among health care and public health professionals, increase health literacy skills and provide sound principles in the design of programs and interventions that result in healthier behaviors (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 2015). The website also notes that proper health communication between provider and patient has the potential to improve health care quality and safety, increase the efficiency of health care and public health service delivery, improve the public health information infrastructure, support care in the community and at home, facilitate clinical and consumer decision-making and build patients health skills and knowledge (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 2015). Good communication between provider and patient has the ability to eliminate health disparity related constraints that limit health care access, treatment and positive