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Wednesday, February 11, 2004America's fast-growing minority population isn't fully represented in the health care professions, according to a new study that urges government and educators to encourage more blacks, Latinos and others to enter medical fields. ''Racial and ethnic minority clinicians are significantly more likely than their white peers to serve minority and medically underserved communities,'' the prestigious Institute of Medicine said in a study released Thursday. The Institute found that while Latinos constitute 12 percent of the population, they make up only 2 percent of registered nurses, 3.4 percent of psychologists and 3.5 percent of physicians. And while one in eight Americans is black, fewer than one in 20 physicians or dentists is black, according to the study, ''In the Nation's Compelling Interest: Ensuring Diversity in the Health Care Workforce.'' In particular, the report said, language barriers for Latinos and others can limit their access to mental health care as well as medical and dental attention. But other minority groups should consider a different career: The committee defined underrepresented minorities as blacks, Latinos and Native Americans. While Asians and Pacific Islanders make up 19.8 percent of medical school graduates -- more than their share of the population..... posted by Sydney on 2/11/2004 08:25:00 AM 0 comments 0 Comments: |
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