African-American Veterans Discriminated Against in Health Care

[babylonsister]

http://vawatchdog.org/07/nf07/nfMAY07/nf050507-10.htm

African-American Veterans Discriminated Against in Health Care


Newswise — African-American veterans of the armed forces often struggle to get the health care they need, says a new report from Northeastern University’s Institute on Urban Health Research (IUHR). The report, titled “Health Care Experiences and Health Status of African-American Veterans” was partially funded by the Boston Public Health Commission (BHPC) and the IUHR and was prepared in response to a request from the Tri Ad Veterans League, Inc., a Boston-based grassroots group of African-American veterans.

Among the findings, Northeastern researchers reported that 78% of the respondents recalled having an experience of discrimination where they received health care services. Although on average, study participants were moderately satisfied with their health care, they indicated lack of confidence in the diagnosis given to them by their doctors. They also expressed dissatisfaction with access to medical specialists; the time their doctors spent with them; and getting medical care in a timely manner.

“Our study uncovered significant relationships between perceived discrimination from health care providers and the satisfaction with care in general,” says Nathaniel M. Rickles, Pharm.D., Ph.D., BCPP, assistant professor of pharmacy at Northeastern and lead author of the report. “We also found that there is a strong connection between perceived discrimination and the level of physical functioning of our respondents, which may be due to a delay in getting the services they need.”

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[Monkeyman]

1. Think about the VA that were closed

So far nine six of those Hospitals take care of 40% of the Black areas in that City. I have seen my brothers sit for hours while vets who came in later where treated right away. Something is very wrong with that picture.

[peacebaby3]

2. babylonsister

I call myself reading the entire article, but I did read it in a very big hurry.

I couldn't find if they did a study of all military personnel or did they just survey African-American troops? Did it say one way or the other?

There is one thing I can tell you and that is all of the care is horrible. My husband is in the process of retiring with 21 years in and has had some health problems since returning from Iraq...well, the Army just happened to lose his entire medical file! All of it since he joined in 1986. He went over to take some test last October and they now claim they can't find it. How f*cking convenient for them!!!

[babylonsister]

3. I posted this last night-might be of interest to you:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=816102&mesg_id=816102

As for your question, my understanding is that for this study, only African Americans were interviewed.