Updated
Blacks more likely to leave hospital against advice
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – African Americans are more likely than their white or Hispanic counterparts to check themselves out of the hospital against their doctors’ advice, a new study has found.
In an analysis of more than 3 million discharges from U.S. hospitals in 2002, the researchers found that 1.4 percent were made against medical advice. Compared with white patients, African Americans were 35 percent more likely to opt for such a “self-discharge,” the researchers report in the American Journal of Public Health.
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While the reasons for these findings are not completely clear, they speculate that distrust of doctors or a history of bad experiences with the healthcare system may partially explain African Americans’ higher likelihood of self-discharge.
In some cases, the researchers note, patients may need to care for children or other family members, or may be worried about missing work.
[SNIP]
Along with race, other factors appeared to increase the risk of patients checking out against medical advice. Patients receiving Medicaid, the government health insurance program for the poor, were three times more likely than patients with private insurance to self-discharge. Also at greater risk were patients on Medicare, the federal insurance program for older Americans. Younger patients self-discharged more often than older patients, and men did so more often than women.
Even with factors like insurance and income considered, however, African-American race was still independently linked to a higher risk of self-discharge. Figuring out why this is, and how to address the discrepancy, will be important, according to Ibrahim’s team. (more…)
I don’t know about you, but I am starting not to buy this line that Blacks don’t trust doctors because of the ghosts of the Tuskegee experiment.
Every Black person that I have both known in the past and today who was under the care of a physician NEVER mentioned anything about not trusting their doctor or the hospital UNLESS the doctor that was assigned to them gave piss poor service. They especially disliked their physician if he/she talked to them like a child which does happen often. Amongst my family and friends, our response has been to either confront the physician with other family members or stop going to the appointments altogether (or self-check out) anytime such a situation arose.
Doctors who accept insurance plans are oftentimes dictated by these companies on the amount of time they can spend with each patient. So if a patient has multiple questions about a recommended procedure, they are oftentimes given a quick response that is full of medical terminology that can be intimidating to anybody with no medical background. Oftentimes doctors will try to rush a patient into a decision and at times appear to be annoyed with you if ask them to break it down for you. If you are elderly and have nobody that can go with you on your doctor’s visits, you are really screwed. Of course, how you are treated greatly depends on what type of coverage you are under. I think where the race factor comes in play here is how we handle poor service. If a doctor is acting as if he can barely give you the time of day, OUR response typically isn’t to just ‘grin and bear it’. To be honest with you, I have seen doctors treat folks like this regardless of ethnicity. I just think that our tolerance for such treatment is very minimal compared to other races.
Another thing to consider here is that both Medicare and Medicaid are basic government-funded health plans that tend to offer lower reimbursements to doctors than private insurers. In other words, picture everything I said in the last paragraph–only worse. Without a financial incentive that can at least cover most of the costs of a typical doctor’s visit, doctors are limited in providing the type of service where a patient does not feel like cattle. With the amount of Blacks that depend on this type of government assistance, no wonder we are checking out at a disproportional rate.
The following is an excerpt of the last article I have listed below. When you get the chance, check out some of the other links that I have provided.
Report: NY’s Medicaid payments to doctors nearly last in nation
By VALERIE BAUMAN–Associated Press Writer
October 28, 2007
ALBANY, N.Y. – Dr. Nancy Gadziala believes everyone, no matter how poor, has a right to health care. And her conviction is costing her.
A new report shows that while New York’s Medicaid program is one of the richest for patients in the country, it’s second to last when it comes to the amount it pays doctors and other health care providers.
That can be bad news not just for doctors who treat Medicaid patients, but for patients who may find limited Medicaid-paid care, especially in rural areas.
Since some Medicaid patients aren’t able to see the same doctor with each visit, it can also be more likely that dangerous symptoms and health changes won’t be spotted.
“There has to be a balance,” Gadziala said. “No one can provide an office and provide medical care and lose money constantly _ they just can’t stay in practice.”
While New York has generously spent more per Medicaid enrollee _ $7,500 _ than nearly every other state, it performed poorly when evaluated for payments to health care providers, according to the report by Public Citizen, a nonprofit interest group. (more…)
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Doctors Taking Less Medicaid Patients
Many Doctors Shun Patients With Medicare
Doctors Telling Medicare Patients To Look Elsewhere For Treatment
DOCS SHOULD QUIT MEDICARE, SAYS LEADING DOCTORS’ GROUP
Doctors Aren’t In for Medicaid Patients
Report: NY’s Medicaid payments to doctors nearly last in nation
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