CLINICAL PRACTICE ISSUES IN AMERICAN INDIANS AND ALASKA NATIVES

Course overview

THE DISPARITY IN THE HEALTHCARE PROVIDED TO THE AMERICAN INDIANS AND ALASKAN NATIVES IS A LONG-STANDING ISSUE THAT CONTINUES TO PLAGUE THE UNITED STATES. SINCE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF INDIAN HEALTH SERVICES, MANY OF THESE ISSUES HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED. HOWEVER, THE DISPARITIES CONTINUE TO EXIST ALONG WITH THE RISE OF NEW ISSUES LIKE HEART DISEASE, CANCER, AND OTHER NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKAN NATIVE COMMUNITY, THE ETIOLOGY AND EPIDEMIOLOGY OF THE HEALTHCARE DISPARITIES, AND HIGHLIGHTS THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM'S ROLE IN BRIDGING THIS GAP IN HEALTHCARE DISPARITY.