The Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) and the Comprehensive Health Information Systems Advisory Council (CHIS) will conduct a survey of Florida healthcare
organizations regarding education and outreach activities that address racial/ethnic and gender health disparities.
"AHCA, along with the Department of Health, will work together to identify, address and eliminate racial and gender health disparities," says Secretary Ruben J. King-Shaw Jr.
"One purpose of the survey is to learn what healthcare providers are doing about health disparities."
Some issues:
- The ratio of uninsured Hispanics to uninsured whites in Florida is greater than 2 to 1.
- The neonatal and infant mortality rates among Florida's African-American population are double that of whites.
- Women face a worse prognosis than men following surgery for coronary heart disease and following a myocardial infarction.
The "Health Disparities Education and Outreach Survey 2000-2001" was mailed to health maintenance organizations, hospitals, nursing homes, Florida medical association
executives and medical associations. Results will be published next year.
(Carolyn Turner, 850/922-5861)