Domestic Health Disparities

The United States spends more money per capita for health care costs than any developed country in the world. It, also, has the worst health outcomes of any developed country. This presentation will review US health disparities in marginalized communities from the lens of health equity, health inequality, health disparities, and social determinants of health. The health care outcome review will be made nationally, regionally, and locally in the context of historical and current policy decisions affecting US health care outcomes. The deficiencies of the current system are underscored in the increased disease burden of COVID-19 cases and mortality in US marginalized communities mirroring similar occurrences in chronic disease manifestations. Recognition and identification of factors contributing to health inequity is the first step in achieving improved health care outcomes in marginalized domestic populations. Participants are encouraged to take the Harvard Implicit Bias test prior to this session at https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/takeatest.html