Calling the nation's racial and ethnic disparities in health care "unacceptable," the American Medical Association has voted to create a program aimed at eliminating those barriers to care. In addition, the AMA will direct resources to help providers implement strategies and seek to work with national specialty and state medical associations, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and other appropriate organizations.

"Based on the available research, it is clear that racial and ethnic minority patients experience a lower quality and intensity of health care and receive fewer diagnostic and preventive health care services," said AMA Immediate Past President. "We have a professional and moral obligation to aggressively confront this public health problem."

The AMA's decision supports the goals of Healthy People 2010-also endorsed by the AMA, HHS and others-which established as its overarching goal the elimination of health disparities. Existing research has shown that disparities in health care can result in disease complications, poor health outcomes and higher overall health care costs.

"We know the problems exist, but we also must recognize there are clear needs for additional information on the nature, causes and implications of health care disparities," said Dr. Corlin. "Improved data collection is critically important to ongoing efforts to address the needs of patients, providers and health care systems."

The AMA also called on all appropriate federal, private, medical and non-medical organizations to assist in the collection and development of evidence-based performance measures to adequately identify socioeconomic, racial and ethnic disparities in quality. These evidence-based measures will help promote the consistency and equity of care for all persons, said Corlin.

SOURCE:
American Medical Association (http://www.ama-assn.org)