From the ArcaMax Publishing, Health & Fitness Newsletter:
http://www.arcamax.com/news/healthtips/s-565423-438432
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (UPI) -- High levels of segregation in U.S. counties
were linked to decreased surgeries of minority patients, researchers
say they have learned.
The study, published in the Journal of the American College of
Surgeons, found an increase of just 1 percent in the African-American
or Hispanic population was associated with a significant decrease in
the availability and utilization of surgical services in the most
segregated counties.
In the least segregated counties, small population increases were not
associated with significant decreases in surgical resources.
"We hope this report will guide budgetary decisions and incentives by
health policy-makers in their bid to close the racial health disparity
gap and increase access to surgical health care across racial lines,
particularly in the most segregated areas," Dr. Awori Hayanga of the
University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor, the study leader,
said in a statement.
The study was based on data from the 2004 U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services Area Resource File -- a nationwide record of
healthcare, economic and demographic data.
The 3,219 U.S. counties were categorized as most, moderately or least
segregated using the Isolation Index -- a measure of the probability
that a member of one minority group will come into contact with
members of the same racial group.