According to a study by the Commonwealth Fund, about one quarter of older Black and Latinos reported facing racial discrimination at the doctor’s office. 23 percent of Latinos and 25 percent Blacks ages 60 or older said they had their health concerns dismissed by healthcare professionals.
Author Michelle M. Doty told NBC News that this study reinforces the fact that people of color are treated unfairly when receiving medical care.
“The healthcare system is not working for people of color, particularly older adults,” Doty said.
Researchers said that patients who faced racial discrimination experienced more social isolation, financial strain, and feelings of dissatisfaction with their care. This is mostly seen in older patients because they require more medical care.
“Given that older adults use far more health care services than do younger people, and that the U.S. population is rapidly aging, addressing discrimination in health care settings is especially important for older adults of color,” Doty said.
Black women are more vulnerable with 49 percent reporting discrimination, compared to 34 percent of Latinas and 37 percent of white women.
Experts suggest policy changes in order to address these racial disparities. This includes publicly disclosing discrimination data as well as conducting educational trainings that tackle racism and implicit bias among health care providers.
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