The Diversity Benefit: How Does Diversity Among Health Professionals Address Public Needs?

摘要: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) signed by President Obama on March 23, 2010, is a far-reaching law intended to improve access the quality of health care for Americans. Recognizing importance workforce nation’s health, addresses professions education training issues through provisions strengthen primary workforce, provide tax relief professionals with state loan repayments, establish national Health Workforce Commission, expand healthcare increasing improving low-interest student loans. It estimated that PPACA would afford 32 million more currently uninsured new consumers, many which ethnic racial minorities or members other vulnerable groups. As enacted, nation experiencing unprecedented demographic change. When 2010 Census counts are tallied, we may finally grasp degree shifts has undergone in past decade. Since 2000 Census, data gleaned from American Community Survey models such as one carried out Pew Research Center (Passel Cohn, U.S. population projections: 2005–2050. Washington, DC: Center: Social Demographic Trends, 2008) predict major shifts. By 2042, two Americans will be an Asian American, Pacific Islander, African Hispanic, Indian, and/or Alaska Native. 2000, Hispanics have accounted over one-half increase United States. number grew at larger proportion (9.0%) than any group during this same time period. In least four states (California, Hawaii, Texas, New Mexico) District Columbia, “minorities” constitute majority (U.S. Bureau, An older diverse midcentury, 2008. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012496.html, Accessed 22 Oct 2008; Bureau Hispanic number, http://www.infoplease.com/spot/hhmcensus1.html, 9 Jan 2010). Moreover, because reproductive immigration patterns, disproportionally represented among younger population. Today, account 43% under 20 years age, it projected next decades minority students almost 40% total college (Roberts, Minorities often 20, York Times, 2008). Despite rapid growth groups States, dramatically underrepresented professionals. percentage Native, Islander1 grown only modestly best 30 years. Yet relative rate still leaves outstripped several fold. Hispanics, example, comprise 15% population, but 2% registered nurse 4.6% psychologists, 5.0% physicians. Similarly, eight individuals States yet less 1 dentists physicians American. severely academia. During 2007–2008 academic year, URMs (underrepresented minorities) made up 7.4% medical school faculty, fewer 7% undergraduate 10% baccalaureate graduate nursing 12% clinical psychology 8.6% dental faculty (Moreno et al., Using multiple lenses: examination economic racial/ethnic diversity students. In: Univ AoACa, editor. California: James Irvine Foundation, Claremont Graduate University, 2006; Institute Medicine, compelling interest: ensuring health-care workforce. 2004; Hall, Clin Psychol Sci Pract 13:258–261, 2006).