Racial Disparities in Healthcare Access and Outcomes
In the United States, racial disparities in healthcare remain a significant issue. People of color, especially Black Americans, face worse health outcomes, limited access to care, and unequal treatment compared to white Americans. This ongoing problem stems from systemic and structural racism ingrained in the healthcare system.
What Is Systemic Racism in Healthcare?
Systemic racism is how various systems, like healthcare, education, and housing, work together to maintain racial inequalities. Structural racism focuses on the policies within these systems that create barriers for people of color. For example, Black mothers are three times more likely than white mothers to die from pregnancy-related complications, and Black newborns are 250% more likely to die than white newborns (HealthCity, 2025).
Implicit Bias in Medical Care
Implicit bias, or unconscious stereotypes, is a major factor in healthcare disparities. Even doctors who think they mean well can unknowingly provide worse care to patients of color. For instance, Black children with appendicitis are less likely to receive adequate pain medication compared to white children. These fateful mistakes can come from extremely harmful stereotypes, like the false belief that Black people have higher pain tolerance. This can continue to affect treatment decisions.
Historical Inequities and Access to Care
Historical practices like redlining have left many communities of color with fewer healthcare resources, such as hospitals and fresh food. Also, Black Americans are more likely to be uninsured or underinsured, which limits their access to medical care. Nearly half of Black working age adults live in states that refused to expand Medicaid. This leaves them with fewer options for affordable care and in turn leads to their declining health.
Steps Toward Change
To work towards changing the healthcare systems to treat each individual equally, healthcare systems must standardize care procedures and train providers to recognize implicit bias. Some programs like the Boston Medical Center’s Health Equity Accelerator show progress is possible. They have reduced disparities in diabetes care and pregnancy related hospital readmissions through patient-centered approaches.
Conclusion
Racial disparities in healthcare are a serious problem that must be addressed. By recognizing these issues, fighting against bias, improving access to care, and working with affected communities, we can move toward a fairer healthcare system for everyone.
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