Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Shortage Of Latino Doctors Is Hampering Health Efforts, Study Finds
Los Angeles Times: Number Of Latino Doctors Isn't Keeping Pace With Population, Study Says
Latinos as a group suffer disproportionately from poverty-related conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. Under the Affordable Care Act, more of them than ever have access to coverage. But in a recent analysis published by the journal Academic Medicine, [Dr. Gloria] Sanchez and colleagues found that the number of Latino physicians was not keeping pace with population growth and suggested that correcting the imbalance could be key to addressing Latino health disparities. (Brown, 2/19)
USA Today: Medical Leaders Cite Discrimination, Calls For Advocacy
Leaders in the medical community have published a pair of perspective pieces in the New England Journal of Medicine saying implicit bias among physicians is adversely affecting the health of black patients, and calling on the medical community to advocate against this. In one piece, Mary Bassett, New York City health commissioner, suggests health professionals should be accountable for battling the racism that contributes to poor health. The medical community must first acknowledge injustices in medical experimentation on black patients, Bassett writes. She also cites a lack of diversity among doctors. Only 4% are black, compared to 13% of the population, she says. (Eversley, 2/19)
