I recently found myself in a debate with a non-medical colleague on the subject of medical care. Their argument was that medical care is the same for all Americans – that we all have access to the same amount and quality of care.
I immediately thought of my own upbringing, growing up in a rural town of 600 people where the only local doctor was well past retirement and practiced in his home. The next choice was to drive an hour to the city.
Each year since 2003, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has reported on progress and opportunities for improving health care quality and reducing health care disparities. The 2010 report highlighted areas of health disparities in the U.S.
According to the survey, the leading factor accounting for health disparities is income. A person considered poor had the lowest likelihood of receiving care according to quality guidelines. Race also mattered. Blacks, Native Americans, and non-white Hispanics also had lower quality scores.
I remain optimistic that the poor and minority populations can find ways not to be a bad statistic. Here are just a few of the ways in which you can protect your health and the health of your loved ones:
Get health insurance. Health insurance is available for many people in Indiana under the state’s Medicaid program. All coverage is based on four areas: income/family size, age, resources/assets, and medical needs. In order to apply for Medicaid programs, one must complete paperwork at a Family and Social Services office or through an enrollment center.
Once you have insurance, get to know your provider. Likely, your provider is a doctor or nurse practitioner, often called primary care providers (PCP) or primary medical providers (PMP). It is always best to first see your doctor when you are well. Your PMP can help you to understand the care you need to stay healthy
Learn more about your health. Our health is based on several elements, including heredity, race, ethnicity and risk factors. You know your family history the best, and should share it with your doctors. Other conditions, like sickle cell anemia are related to race. Because neither of those can be modified, the best chance to manage these types of conditions is early diagnosis and modifying risk factors that can be changed.
Follow your health care provider’s instructions and take your medications as prescribed. If you don’t understand the how or the why of taking medications, or can’t get to the pharmacy to pick it up, tell your doctor. Your doctor can help make sure that you get needed treatment, or find an alternative that works for you.
Dr. Caroline Carney Doebbeling, MD, MSc, FAPM, Chief Medical Officer of MDwise.
