Putting the Right People in the Right Places: Minority Health Professionals Serve Community Needs
Author: Lurie, Nicole MD, MSPH
Date Published: 1999
Recruitment, retention, training and promotion of racial and ethnic minorities within the Nation's health professions workforce will not only help eliminate disparities in the health care received by minorities, it will improve the health of all Americans. Racial and ethnic minority physicians are, in general, more willing to provide care to poor patients who find themselves with no insurance of public insurance such as Medicaid, according to a recent survey of U.S. medical school graduates. The survey also revealed that almost one-half of underrepresented minority graduates, compared to less than one-fifth of their non-underrepresented counterparts, indicated that they planned to practice in an underserved area. These professionals fill a great need. Underserved communities with high proportions of Black and Hispanic residents have been described as four times as likely as others to have a shortage of physicians. Research also shows that minority physicians are more likely to practice in areas where a high percentage of residents come from racial and ethnic backgrounds which are similar to their own.
Date Published: 1999
Recruitment, retention, training and promotion of racial and ethnic minorities within the Nation's health professions workforce will not only help eliminate disparities in the health care received by minorities, it will improve the health of all Americans. Racial and ethnic minority physicians are, in general, more willing to provide care to poor patients who find themselves with no insurance of public insurance such as Medicaid, according to a recent survey of U.S. medical school graduates. The survey also revealed that almost one-half of underrepresented minority graduates, compared to less than one-fifth of their non-underrepresented counterparts, indicated that they planned to practice in an underserved area. These professionals fill a great need. Underserved communities with high proportions of Black and Hispanic residents have been described as four times as likely as others to have a shortage of physicians. Research also shows that minority physicians are more likely to practice in areas where a high percentage of residents come from racial and ethnic backgrounds which are similar to their own.
