Health Care in America: Separate and Unequal: Separate and Unequal

ISBN-13: 9780765616616 / Angielski / Twarda / 2008 / 308 str.

Kant Patel; Mark E. Rushefsky

Opis

The American health care system is a unique mix of public and private programs that critics argue has produced a two-tier system - one for the rich and the other for the poor - that delivers dramatically unequal care and leaves millions of Americans seriously underinsured or with no coverage at all. This book examines the root causes of the inequalities of the American health care system and discusses various policy alternatives. It systematically documents the demands on and the performance of our health care system for different population groups as defined on the basis of gender (women), age (children), race and ethnicity (African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans), and residence in high poverty areas (rural and inner city locales).For each population, the book documents: historical and demographic profile, data on health status, aspects of inequality including access; quality of care; and endemic, cultural, and lifestyle issues affecting health; policies, laws, and programs relevant to health care; and, indicators of improvement or negative trends.

Spis treści

1. The American Health Care System: Separate and Unequal; American Democracy and Equality; Rising Economic Inequality; American Public Opinion and Equality; American Health Care, Equality, and Public Opinion; Inequalities in the American Health Care System; The Relationship Between Socioeconomic Status and Health Inequality; The Politics of Health Care Inequality; The Plan of this Book; References; 2. African Americans and Heath Care; Introduction; African Americans and Health Status/Outcomes; Access to Health Care; African Americans and Quality of Health Care; African Americans' and Whites' Perceptions of American Society and Health Care System; Possible Explanations for Health Care Disparities; Reducing Health Care Disparities Between African Americans and Whites: Progress?; Conclusions; References; 3. Hispanics and Health Care; Introduction; Hispanics and Health Status/Outcomes; Access to Health Care; Quality of Care; Hispanic's and White's Perceptions of American Society and Health Care System; Possible Explanations for Health Care Disparities; Unauthorized Immigrants and Health Care; Conclusions; References; 4. American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Health Care; Introduction; Indian Health Service; Health Status/Outcome; Access to Care; Quality of Care; Possible Explanations for Health Care Disparities; Conclusions; References; 5. Gender and Health Care; Introduction; Health Status/Outcomes; Quality of Health Care; Explanation for Health Care Disparities Conclusions; References; 6. Children and Health Care; Introduction; Health Status/Outcomes; Access to Health Care; Quality of Health Care; Explanations for Health Care Disparities; Conclusions; References; 7. Elderly and Health Care; 8. Geography and Health Care; 9. Conclusion: Health and Inequality Reconsidered.

O autorze

Mark E Rushefsky, Kant Patel