ABSTRACT
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) reported in 1985 that minorities were consistently appearing to have worse health outcomes and rankings due to a number of nongenetic factors. This fact has gained considerable evidence to date. Some of the factors that may be impacting communities with disparities include patient location in relation to access to health insurance and services, personal choice in the utilization of health resources within a location (e.g., due to immigration patterns), and the “neighborhood effect,” which can include the economic status of a neighborhood and quality of care in the region. Discussed are articles that link geography to disparities in access and equity to health resources and quality of care.
