HCA 601 - Health Disparities (3 Credits)

Prerequisite: None
This course will examine in detail the manifestations of health disparities and inequalities in the U.S., with particular reference to their relevance to health care policy and practice in New York City. Evidence of inequalities will be presented with regard to major health indicators, including: incidence and prevalence of disease; differential screening, diagnosis, treatment, and outcome; exposures to risk factors and preventive measures; access to and utilization of health care services; issues relating to the clinical encounter; biases in health research; and health of selected populations. Disparities will be studied through the lenses of race, class, gender, age, residence, and sexual orientation, as well as through the interactions of these factors. A variety of theoretical frameworks will be critically evaluated for their contribution to the explanation of the existence and distribution of health disparities. Although the course will focus on contemporary health disparities, some historical issues will be presented, particularly as these relate to the development of a contemporary research agenda free from the biases of the past. Within each area, strategies and policies for reducing or eliminating the particular health disparity and inequity will be discussed and analyzed. At the end of the course, an analysis and evaluation of broader policy issues will be presented.

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