Addressing Health Disparities as a Means to Improve End of Life Care: A Moral Mandate

Racial and ethnic minorities and the medically underserved suffer a disproportionate burden of disease and shorter life expectancies. Higher rates of cancer, birth defects, infant mortality, asthma, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and stroke are among the reasons why members of our society die prematurely. Disparities in end of life care whether due to the lack of health care access and coverage, or poor quality of care related to prevention, diagnosis or treatment is a national health concern and the federal government has made the elimination of health disparities a priority by 2010.

Efforts to address racial and ethnic disparities in health will require nurses, physicians and other health care providers to work together and leverage existing infrastructure in local, state and federal governments as well as uniting academic scholars, public and private organizations to develop new approaches, in consultation with key members in minority communities, to ensure that education programs, treatment and research opportunities are developed that meet the specific needs of the community.

This session will examine the State of Maryland's Plan to Eliminate Health Disparities and identify opportunities to include end of life care in this movement.