Shortage of Hispanic doctors creates serious barriers to medical care for Latinos

Dr. John Flores examines Larry Hayes during a pre-op appointment at Little Elm Medical Clinic, on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Little Elm, Texas.Luz Reyes anxiously reviewed the list of pediatricians that her insurance company sent her so she could choose a doctor to care for her 6-year-old daughter.

Ríos said the lack of quality educational opportunities, economic disparity and the absence of role models help prevent young Hispanics from pursuing a career in the medical field.“Is a systemic problem, and It starts with education,” said Ríos, who earned her bachelor’s in Human Biology/Public Administration at Stanford University.

For Latinos, the average debt is $211,659. Additional costs can also quickly add up, including living expenses and equipment fees.“Another big part of the problem is that we don’t have role models to relate to. You don’t think about a Latino being a doctor. There are only a few Latino doctors,” Ríos said.About a third of Hispanic Americans say they prefer to see a Spanish-speaking health care provider.

“That’s a terrible thing,” said Aide Granados, founder of Rosa es Rojo in North Texas. The nonprofit’s mission is dismantling income, language and education barriers to health and well-being for Hispanic women and their families.Her illness and experiences led her to create a blog in Spanish to educate Hispanic women about the actions they can take to care for their health.

“My grandfather worked for Pacific Union in El Paso, building and fixing the railroad,” he said. “My grandmother worked in a clothing factory. My grandpa did what he had to do to raise my mom and her six brothers and sisters, so I feel very proud of what I’m doing because, at the end of the day, it’s all about hard work and loving what you do.”Like Flores, Efrain Acosta is another Latino studying to be a nurse at Dallas College.

Source: Healthcare Press (healthcarepress.net)

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