Discussing Healthcare Equity for African Americans During Black History Month
Healthcare equity is a critical issue for everyone. Without question, every person deserves equal access to healthcare services. During Black History Month, Walker Tisdale III, MPH, MA, LMSW, wrote a powerful piece for SAMHSA. With a passionate tone, the piece is entitled “Still Striving for the Mountaintop: Achieving Health Equity for African Americans”. The outcome is the same whether you describe the challenge as Health Equity or Healthcare Equity. Ultimately, equality of access to healthcare services is the right of every American.
During Black History Month, the question of healthcare equity for African Americans is in the spotlight. As Tisdale points out, racial and ethnic health inequities are pervasive in the majority of state health systems. Whether it is treatable conditions or chronic health problems, African Americans do not receive the same quality of care as their Caucasian counterparts.
Healthcare Equity for All Minorities
As a provider of integrated healthcare solutions, Tarzana Treatment Centers (TTC) firmly stands for healthcare equity for everyone. In particular, minorities, who traditionally have been marginalized, need access to quality behavioral health offerings. Thus, a goal of TTC as a nonprofit organization is to provide behavioral healthcare services that are affordable and accessible.
Indeed, the TTC “Who We Are” page describes the organization: “Tarzana Treatment Centers, Inc. is a full-service behavioral healthcare organization that provides high quality, cost-effective substance abuse and mental health treatment to adults and youth. We are a non-profit, community-based organization that operates a psychiatric hospital, residential and outpatient alcohol and drug treatment centers and family medical clinics.”
Affordable and Accessible = Healthcare Equity
Indeed, the essence of healthcare equity is behavioral healthcare services that address the needs of African Americans and all other minorities. Although progress continues, it is only the beginning. Until primary care, mental health, and SUD services are accessible to all, there is no true equity. Thus, well-researched articles by scholars like Walker Tisdale III, MPH, MA, LMSW are significant. The article shows the progress of the past and present. Moreover, the equitable dream of the future remains the priority.
In the article, Tisdale writes, “Achieving health equity is a critical goal for behavioral health services. Equal access to high quality and affordable behavioral health services and support is the right of all individuals, regardless of race, age, ethnicity, gender identity, disability, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, sex characteristics, or geographical location. While this mountain may be a difficult one to climb, addressing health equity requires leadership, collaboration, and support for sustainability.”
The Sustainability of Healthcare Equity
From years of experience, TTC knows healthcare equity is a genuine possibility. Indeed, achieving such a positive health outcome demands funding and support from federal, state, and local governments. Moving towards greater compassion, the proper focus is always on the well-being and safety of the population.
At TTC, healthcare equity for every patient that walks through our doors is an ongoing priority. Hence, the focus is on patient safety and security. As Tisdale concludes, “While the work of achieving overall health equity for African Americans as a people has been and continues to be aspirational, we cannot deny the progress that has been made in the public health and mental health infrastructure, national awareness, through legislation, and program services.”
As a nonprofit organization with the same goals, TTC is here to provide behavioral healthcare services that are affordable and accessible. Ultimately, healthcare equity for African Americans is a priority, not just during Black History Month, but every day of the year. If you or a loved one needs help, please contact us today.