Medical News

Filed under: Hospice

Terminally ill patients who are minorities are less likely to choose hospice care than whites, according to a recent report..

In 2005, 82 percent of those receiving hospice care were white, while 7.5 percent identified themselves as black or African-American according to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. This compares to the nation as a whole, where 75 percent of the country is white and 12 percent is black, according to the Census.

African-Americans seek hospice care less often due to cost, health insurance factors and a sense that they are being denied medical care on the basis of race, according to experts. According to John Radulovic of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, “Some people think that if a doctor wants them to stay home and not come into the hospital, that the medical system isn’t truly concerned about them.”

Some hospices are trying to reach more African-American through church programs, since African-Americans look to their faith communities for support during serious illness, according to Radulovic.

Other hospice groups are trying to reach out to minority Hispanic commminties by providing Spanish-language materials.

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Original post by Patricia Mayville-Cox

Filed under: Hospice

Terminally ill patients who are minorities are less likely to choose hospice care than whites, according to a recent report..

In 2005, 82 percent of those receiving hospice care were white, while 7.5 percent identified themselves as black or African-American according to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. This compares to the nation as a whole, where 75 percent of the country is white and 12 percent is black, according to the Census.

African-Americans seek hospice care less often due to cost, health insurance factors and a sense that they are being denied medical care on the basis of race, according to experts. According to John Radulovic of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, “Some people think that if a doctor wants them to stay home and not come into the hospital, that the medical system isn’t truly concerned about them.”

Some hospices are trying to reach more African-American through church programs, since African-Americans look to their faith communities for support during serious illness, according to Radulovic.

Other hospice groups are trying to reach out to minority Hispanic commminties by providing Spanish-language materials.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Original post by Patricia Mayville-Cox