Poverty affects every person in America whether you are one of the rich or one of the poor. Our daily quality of life is determined by our shelter, access to clean water and food, and health status. Our quality of health is often determined by our access to health care. There are many disparities in health care, and business and societal expenditures are associated with these. Business costs can be measured in the number of inpatient and outpatient days, the number of requests for specialty care, and the amount of medication use.1 One study2 showed that among elderly rural adults with type 2 diabetes, predictors of specialty care use included gender, socioeconomic status, education, diabetic medication use, and self-rated health. These factors reflect an increased risk of complications. Societal impact of disparities can result in increased disability, poverty, family stress, premature death, or mortality.
展开▼
