Social Barriers in Healthcare
By Aayush, Aissatou, Rebecca, and Ty
Healthcare is not equitable. In rural areas especially, patients face unique and persistent challenges that impact both the quality of care they receive and their chances of recovery. These disparities stem from more than inaccessible hospitals or doctors—they reflect deeper, systemic issues within the healthcare system itself. There are various barriers that lower the quality of care and worsen health outcomes, such as socioeconomic disparities, differences in cultural background, and racial biases. From limited insurance coverage and transportation barriers to racial biases and cultural misunderstandings, a wide range of social and structural factors influence how care is delivered and received. Understanding and examining the systems that shape patient experiences, especially in underserved communities, is critical to improving health outcomes.
These disparities do not just exist on paper; they show up in real conversations and lived experiences, highlighted in our playlist. For example, Archie’s story about how his mother avoided medical care due to cost concerns highlights the detrimental effects of socioeconomic barriers. Andrea, on the other hand, reflected on how her immigrant parents’ limited engagement with healthcare emphasizes how cultural disconnection prevented communities from seeking reliable healthcare. These stories, in particular, resonate in the context of rural areas, where barriers are magnified due to fewer resources. Through this playlist, we aimed to give a voice to the marginalized group of people who are often overlooked and illustrate why tackling these social barriers is essential for equitable healthcare.
Our group aims to explore these key themes by focusing on several subtopics. Aissatou will analyze the cultural barriers present in healthcare. Tyjerion will examine the implications of socioeconomic disparities within healthcare. Rebecca explores how racial biases during the segregation era shaped healthcare access and how those historical injustices continue to contribute to the inaccessibility of healthcare for marginalized communities today. Aayush will evaluate how implicit biases exist in the patient-provider relationship. Collectively, we will all discuss how our topic impacts the patient-provider relationship and the outcomes of care.
Student Essays
Racial Discrimination and Medical Mistrust
Introduction For many Black and immigrant families in the American South, medical care has never been perceived as a safe or welcoming institution. The legacy of segregated hospitals, the absence of culturally competent care, and decades of structural exclusion have … Read more
The Unconscious Danger of Implicit Biases in Healthcare
Introduction As early as 1888, Mary Putnam Jacobi noticed differences in treatment between male and female hysteria diagnosis, saying: “if this be a female, and notably selfish, the case is pronounced hysteria. If a man, or though a woman, amiable … Read more
Cultural Barriers in Medicine
Imagine you are on a trip in a foreign country and you become sick. You are placed in a hospital surrounded by people speaking a different language. You are trying to communicate your symptoms, but find it very difficult with … Read more
Dismissed and Disconnected: The Truth About Underserved Healthcare
Introduction Americans who are in the lower tax bracket are twice as likely to suffer from chronic illnesses such as hypertension or diabetes. Still, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), they are less likely to receive … Read more