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Dian Palmer, RN on Healthcare Inequities
by Cathy Glasson, RN | Friday, June 20, 2008
As you all know, yesterday was Juneteenth (see earlier posts). As nurses, it's a day to educate ourselves on the healthcare inequities that exist in our country, and to reflect on what can be done to bridge the divide.
In recognition of Juneteenth, my close friend and colleague Dian Palmer, RN had an op-ed published in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. I wanted to share a portion of her powerful statement (and encourage you to read the full article, here):
In a nation that spends more than $150 billion annually in medical treatment and loses nearly $1 trillion in productivity due to illness, everybody pays for health inequities. Left unaddressed, health disparities will unravel even the best efforts to improve the nation's overall quality of care.
...
Even African-Americans and other racial and ethnic minorities with health insurance face disparities in delivery of care and health outcomes. In a nation that spends more than $150 billion annually in medical treatment and loses nearly $1 trillion in productivity due to illness, everybody pays for health inequities. Left unaddressed, health disparities will unravel even the best efforts to improve the nation's overall quality of care.
As we tackle the health care crisis, health equity must be a centerpiece of any reform. Closing the gaps with equitable solutions is a modest price.