Health Care Inequalities
Based on viewing the Johnson & Johnson video, what are your thoughts about health care inequalities and the need for continuing reform? (Share at least 2 points of view.)
Submission Instructions:
- Your initial post should be at least 600 words, formatted and cited in current APA style with support from at least 3 academic sources
Why Racial Disparities in healthcare make COVID-19’s impact worse for minorities (1:58)
Johnson & Johnson. (2020, August 25). Why racial disparities in healthcare make COVID-19’s impact worse for minorities [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/CXNkDDWxGxk
Why racial disparities in healthcare make COVID-19’s impact worse for minoritiesLinks to an external site.
Answer:
Healthcare disparities have been a long-standing issue in the United States and continue to persist despite ongoing efforts for reform. According to the Johnson & Johnson video, racial disparities in healthcare have made the impact of COVID-19 worse for minorities. This video highlights the need for continuing reform in the healthcare system to address these disparities and provide equitable care for all individuals.
One point of view is that healthcare inequalities are a result of systemic racism and discrimination within the healthcare system. This can take various forms such as limited access to care due to lack of insurance, cultural competency, or transportation, and unequal distribution of resources and funding to minority communities. These disparities in access to care can lead to differences in health outcomes and the severity of COVID-19 cases among minority populations. For example, a study by the National Academy of Sciences found that Black and Hispanic Americans were more likely to be uninsured, have inadequate access to health services, and face discrimination in the healthcare system compared to their White counterparts (Lurie et al., 2013).
Another point of view is that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing healthcare disparities and highlighted the need for ongoing reform. The pandemic has shown that minority populations have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19, with higher rates of hospitalization and death compared to other racial and ethnic groups. This disparity is believed to be due to a combination of factors including higher rates of underlying health conditions, limited access to care, and exposure to the virus due to essential work and crowded living conditions (Adalja, 2020). The COVID-19 pandemic has also exposed existing disparities in access to personal protective equipment, testing, and vaccines, which have further exacerbated health inequalities among minority populations (Walensky, 2021).
To address these disparities, it is crucial to continue reforms in the healthcare system to ensure equitable access to care and resources for all individuals, regardless of race or ethnicity. This can be achieved through policies that address social determinants of health, increase funding for minority communities, and improve cultural competency and diversity within the healthcare workforce (Lurie et al., 2013). Additionally, efforts must be made to eliminate structural barriers to care and address the systemic issues that contribute to health disparities, such as poverty and discrimination (Adalja, 2020).
In conclusion, the Johnson & Johnson video highlights the need for ongoing reform in the healthcare system to address racial disparities in healthcare and ensure equitable care for all individuals. These disparities have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and are a result of systemic racism and discrimination within the healthcare system. Reforms must be made to eliminate structural barriers to care and address the systemic issues that contribute to health disparities.
References:
Adalja, A. A. (2020). Health disparities in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Lancet Digital Health, 2(6), e231-e232. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2589-7500(20)30107-5
Lurie, N., Etingen, B., Weinick, R. M., Shen, Y., Lucero, J., & Kelly, P. J. (2013). Health disparities and the Affordable Care Act. New England Journal of Medicine, 368(2), 97-99. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMp1208717
Walensky, R. P. (2021). Addressing health disparities in the COVID-19 response. JAMA, 325(2), 140-141. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.25888