Achieving equity in referrals for renal transplant evaluations with African-American patients: the role of nephrology social workers.
Research over the last 12 years has repeatedly shown that African-American ESRD patients are less likely than white patients to be referred for a transplant evaluation. This article takes an exploratory look at issues surrounding this racial disparity. Among the issues focused on are: (a) the multiple ramifications from this racial disparity; (b) neglected factors which may be militating against the equitable referral of African-American patients; and (c) the vulnerabilities of this patient population. The final focus is on intervention strategies for nephrology social workers and how they might help to facilitate a greater equity in this area of health care with African-American patients.
Wolfe
William A
WA
Warminister Hospital, 225 Newton Road, Warminister, PA 18794, USA. wwolfe@ucwphilly.rr.com
D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000941:ethics; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000208:ethnology / Q000601:surgery*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000941:ethics / Q000208:ethnology*; D009398:Nephrology / Q000941:ethics*; D018579:Patient Selection / Q000941:ethics; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000941:ethics*; D012935:Social Justice; D012947:Social Work / Q000941:ethics; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States; D035862:Vulnerable Populations