Racial and ethnic disparities in the emergency department: a public health perspective

• Published in: Emergency medicine clinics of North America Vol. 24; no. 4; p. 905
• Main Authors: Heron, Sheryl L, Stettner, Edward, Haley, Jr, Leon L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-11-2006
• Subjects: Adult; African Americans; Aged; Emergency Service, Hospital - statistics & numerical data; Female; Hispanic Americans; Humans; Male; Medically Uninsured - statistics & numerical data; Prejudice; Public Health; Quality of Health Care; Social Class; United States; United States
• ISSN: 0733-8627
• DOI: 10.1016/j.emc.2006.06.009

This article discusses racial and ethnic disparities from a public health perspective, specifically why they threaten to impede the efforts to improve the nation's health. The authors (1) provide background information, including a review of the Institute of Medicine report on health care disparities; (2) describe the racial and ethnic compositions of the individuals in the emergency department setting from the perspective of both the patient and health care provider; (3) discuss the most prevalent disease presentations to the emergency department that are likely to have racial and ethnic disparities; and (4) give conclusions and general recommendations on how to address disparities in emergency health care.