Postscript: health disparity and collaborative care.
In this report, we compare healthcare processes for patients with low (n = 7467) and adequate financial status (n = 43,701) after adjustment for age, gender, burden of illness, and health behaviors. Patients with low financial status were 10% to 30% less likely to report good service and collaborative care; they report that markers of disease management and prevention were 7% to 18% below the levels of patients with adequate income. From the patient perspective, these results confirm that inadequate financial status has a broad and adverse influence on health and healthcare. Technology for patient-centered, collaborative care alone will not remedy the problem of health disparity.
Wasson
John H
JH
Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, NH 03755, USA. john.h.wasson@dartmouth.edu
Benjamin
Regina
R
D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D011203:Poverty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D017064:Process Assessment, Health Care; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000191:economics*; D020379:Risk Adjustment; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D035862:Vulnerable Populations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*