History of Racial Inequity in Healthcare

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/history-of-racial-inequity-in-healthcare

Introduction

**Course Review: History of Racial Inequity in Healthcare on Coursera** As our society continues to confront the deep-rooted issues of racial inequity, understanding its historical context—especially within healthcare—becomes critical. The Coursera course "History of Racial Inequity in Healthcare" offers an essential journey through this complex landscape, marrying theoretical knowledge with real-world implications. This course is part of the broader specialization "Addressing Racial Health Inequity in Healthcare," allowing participants to delve deeply into how history, society, and policy converge to shape current health disparities. ### Course Overview The course spans five weeks, each focused on unraveling the intricacies of racial inequity in healthcare through distinct yet interconnected themes. It begins with establishing foundational concepts and definitions, transitioning into historical contexts, and finally examining resilience and agency within marginalized communities. ### Weekly Breakdown **Week 1: Unpacking Concepts and Definitions** The course opens with an exploration of the concept of race and its broader societal implications. It thoughtfully navigates through definitions employed in health equity literature, equipping students to critically assess the frameworks used in subsequent weeks. This week sets the tone by contextualizing the necessity of understanding race to tackle health inequities effectively. **Week 2: Historical Roots of Racial & Ethnic Disparities in Healthcare** This week presents a detailed examination of pivotal historical events that have shaped health disparities. By exploring case studies and historical data, learners gain insight into why specific communities bear a disproportionate burden of disease. The emphasis on historical context is crucial in informing current healthcare practices and policies. **Week 3: Evolution & Impact of the Health Insurance System** Diving into the complexities of the U.S. health insurance system, this module illustrates how various factors—location, age, ability status, and racial identity—affect access to care. Students will appreciate the role of policy in perpetuating inequities and how understanding these dynamics can lead to more equitable health solutions. **Week 4: Access & Professional Representation in Healthcare** This week focuses on the impact of access and representation in healthcare. By drawing parallels with exclusionary practices in other societal sectors, the course highlights how systemic discrimination contributes to healthcare disparities. This critical perspective urges participants to reflect on the intersections of societal discrimination and healthcare access. **Week 5: History of Resilience in Healthcare** In a powerful conclusion, this week underscores the resilience of marginalized communities in addressing their healthcare challenges. The course showcases global examples of self-organizing within these communities, which inspires hope and underscores the importance of grassroots movements in combating health inequity. ### Recommendations I highly recommend this course for individuals interested in public health, social justice, healthcare policy, and community activism. It is particularly beneficial for healthcare professionals, students, and policymakers who seek to understand the historical context that informs contemporary health inequities. The thoroughness of the content combined with engaging instructional methods makes it accessible for learners of varying backgrounds. Furthermore, the course encourages critical thought and application to real-world scenarios, empowering students to challenge and navigate the complexities of racial inequity in healthcare. ### Conclusion In an age where disparities in healthcare cannot be ignored, the "History of Racial Inequity in Healthcare" course on Coursera offers invaluable insights and understanding. It builds a strong foundation for addressing the challenges posed by racial inequity in healthcare settings. By completing this course, participants will not only enhance their knowledge but also position themselves to actively contribute to fostering a more equitable healthcare system.

Syllabus

Week 1 | Unpacking Concepts and Definitions

This week, we will structure and root our understanding of what race is and how it interacts with and affects all aspects of our society. To observe and understand inequities in the healthcare system, we must first have a basic understanding of concepts and definitions in the health equity literature, the origins of race, and how it came to be a ubiquitous part of modern society.

The purpose of this week’s lessons is to understand specific events that contributed to the disproportionate disease burden seen in certain communities, and illustrate why health disparities, and in turn, healthcare disparities, exist by race.

This week, we will learn about the history of health insurance in the United States. The US health insurance system is complex and can vary based on your location, age, ability status, and for some groups, your identity. Understanding these differences helps shed light on how health insurance plays a role in health inequity and, specifically, racial health inequity.

This week, we will explore how the lack of access and representation in various sectors has had an impact on healthcare equity. By illustrating exclusion and discrimination in other sectors of society, we can better see the same parallels that are observed in healthcare and how exclusionary practices outside of healthcare contribute to health disparities and causes of inequities that will be detailed in Course 2 of this specialization.

This week, we will spend time learning about how marginalized communities came together to take care of themselves and their demonstration of resilience in the face of inequity. This not only occurred in the US but around the world with many groups.