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Healthcare Management Research Project
Addressing Healthcare Disparities
Katelyn Schrum
School of Business, Liberty University
BUSI 311: Introduction to Healthcare Administration (B03)
Professor Gary Blackard
June 30, 2025
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Abstract
There are communities that are at a greater risk of having limited access to healthcare
which then causes increased risk of disease and ultimately an earlier death. A multifaceted
strategy is necessary to address the detrimental effects of social determinants of health and
limited access to high-quality care in healthcare deserts. This includes enhancing access to
healthcare, improving the quality of care, and implementing specific policy changes that support
health equity. Healthcare deserts and health disparities are associated with unequal access to
medical treatment and the negative impact on people needing medical attention. Social
determinants of health influence health disparities and healthcare deserts creating barriers to
quality healthcare services. People who live in healthcare deserts and health disparities
experience many different obstacles that result in poor health outcomes and poor quality of care.
Healthcare systems and the government need to invest in ways to address and lessen these
healthcare deserts and health disparities along with implementing programs to help these
communities.
Keywords: healthcare deserts, health disparities, SDOH, quality of care
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Addressing Healthcare Disparities
A comprehensive strategy that addresses social determinants, enhances care quality,
increases healthcare access, and promotes policy changes to create equitable healthcare systems
is critically needed because social determinants and a lack of access to high-quality care have a
detrimental impact on health outcomes in healthcare deserts. Rural communities experience an
increase in health disparities and healthcare deserts which impacts the people of these
communities with increased risk for diseases. Social determinants of health (SDOH) shape
people’s access to opportunities and resources that affect their well-being, which has a
substantial impact on healthcare deserts and health disparities. People seeking medical care in
health deserts face obstacles that have the potential to result in serious health complications. The
healthcare system and the government have to come together to find ways to address and lessen
the health disparities and healthcare deserts for these communities and populations.
Unfair access to healthcare is a factor in both healthcare deserts and health disparities.
Health disparities, which are associated with intergenerational social, economic, and or
environmental disadvantages, are primarily preventable health disparities that negatively impact
communities that face more obstacles to good overall health (What are Health Disparities, 2025).
Healthcare deserts are regions where the population’s healthcare needs are not fully satisfied
because of inadequate access to or poor quality of healthcare services brought on by a lack of
qualified healthcare personnel or facilities, lengthy wait times, disproportionately high service
costs, or other sociocultural barriers (Brinzac, et al., 2023). Significant disparities exist in
healthcare, both in terms of access to care and the results of specific diseases and injuries (Reilly,
2021).
Health disparities and healthcare deserts impact patients in a variety of ways. The general
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health and related healthcare outcomes of patients who reside in healthcare deserts and health
disparities are typically worse. People living in these communities may have higher rates of
substance misuse, chronic illness, suicide, and sexually transmitted diseases; but it is also clear
that these patients face more barriers and challenges when trying to get healthcare services
(Reilly, 2021). More than 80% of Americans lack access to appropriate healthcare, and more
than one-third of Americans reside in counties with inadequate access to pharmacies, primary
care physicians, hospitals, trauma centers, and/or affordable healthcare centers (Pennic, 2021).
Some of the barriers that these people face is the delayed or complete lack of transportation, lack
of healthcare related services, higher healthcare costs, and social and mental health impacts. A
vicious cycle is created by healthcare deserts and disparities, where vulnerable communities are
disproportionately affected and their general well-being and quality of life are negatively
impacted by the limited access to care, which then leads to worse health outcomes.
The nonmedical aspects of a person’s birth, development, employment, living, worship,
and aging that affect their health outcomes that are beyond their control are referred to as SDOH.
These uncontrollable circumstances comprise a broad range of forces and systems that influence
day-to-day existence, including political systems, social norms, development agendas, economic
policies, and social policies (Centers for Disease Control, 2024). Health disparities are mostly
caused by SDOH, including poverty, discrimination, and systemic racism. These structural
problems create a widespread disparities in the access to opportunities and resources that are
necessary for leading a healthy life. Healthcare deserts are typically found in areas with higher
numbers of uninsured people and lower incomes. People with limited funds may not be able to
afford medical care, prescription drugs, or even transportation to appointments. Also, the lack of
healthcare resources and clinicians in rural locations frequently makes it more difficult for
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people living in these areas to get sufficient healthcare even when they need it. Lack of vehicles,
long travel distances, and restricted internet access can make all of these difficulties even worse.
Access to high-quality healthcare services is hampered by these SDOH characteristics,
which further restricts a population’s capacity to change their circumstances. Some of these
barriers include financial, geographic, transportation, cultural and linguistic, discrimination and
stigma, and low health literacy. These barriers lead to a cycle of poor health outcomes, such as
delayed or forgone medical care and or treatment, worsening health conditions, increased use of
emergency services, poor healthcare quality, and reduced overall quality of life. These obstacles
create a vicious cycle of poor health outcomes, including postponed or skipped medical care and
or treatment, deteriorating health, more emergency services used, subpar healthcare, and a lower
standard of living overall.
Health disparities and people that live in healthcare deserts face many obstacles. Among
the restrictions a patient may encounter are the geographic separations between their home and
the nearest hospital or medical offices. Health services like home healthcare may not be provided
to patients’ homes depending on the location and distance from a populated city; this could result
in a gap in care (Ross, 2024). Communities that are within rural areas experience limited or even
no access to healthcare professionals; this is partially due to shortages of healthcare
professionals, which then can cause extended wait times at the closest facilities and adding to an
already overburdened system. In an article by Reilly (2021), these healthcare desert communities
also have issues with health insurance, which also makes healthcare less accessible and less
affordable (Reilly, 2021). Even though technology may have made it possible for telemedicine to
overcome some of the challenges associated with healthcare deserts, this is still a drawback
because some rural and low-income communities lack access to internet connectivity and
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specific technologies that could make a telemedicine visit successful. Due to these limitations for
healthcare desert communities, their risk of disease and even early mortality is exceptionally
higher than communities that do not experience these needs and challenges.
People who live in these healthcare deserts and have health disparities restrictions and
challenges do not receive high-quality medical care, which will typically have unfortunate
consequences. Due to delaying medical treatment, these individuals not only have greater odds
of untreated long-term medical issues and delayed diagnoses; but they also depend more heavily
on emergency medical care. There aren’t many medical facilities of any kind, including
hospitals, primary care physicians, specialists, or pharmacies in many of these regions. If there
are, then they are either understaffed or lack the resources or necessary equipment to serve
patients effectively (Rogan & Lewis, 2020). These individuals’ health results are usually poor
and irreversible due to their limited access and tendency to put off seeking medical care, which
in turn raises healthcare costs. With the rise in healthcare costs because of these complex health
problems now needing more interventions that are more costly and include prolonged
hospitalizations, these individuals tend to be noncompliant with treatments and ultimately reduce
the quality and longevity of their lives. It is imperative to address these constraints and barriers
in order to advance health equity and guarantee that everyone has access to the superior
healthcare they are entitled to.
It is essential to be able to identify strategies for addressing and lowering SDOH in
healthcare deserts. Among the strategies to address SDOH include lowering the poverty rate and
raising the economic standing of communities, enhancing the availability and caliber of
education, and promoting community safety. A technique to advance healthcare equity is to alter
the social norms that influence and result from the surroundings in which people live, work,
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learn, and play (Brown, et al., 2019). A small way that healthcare professionals can help start to
eliminate SDOH would be to send out and or complete questionnaires when treating their
patients. This would help identify what resources are needed and where the resources are needed
most in order to help eliminate healthcare deserts and disparities.
It is important that these communities receive the same high-quality care and medical
services as everyone else. Encouraging paramedicine through community health programs,
bringing medical professionals to underserved areas, and supplying technology that enables
patients to engage in telemedicine are some strategies to enhance the quality of care for patients
in these healthcare deserts and health disparities communities (Gizaw, et al., 2022). It is
important that healthcare systems find alternative ways to collect and analyze data associated
with health disparities and healthcare deserts; this will help with making sure that interventions
and resources are allocated to those areas. An important strategy would be strengthening and
improving patient-provider relationships. These healthcare deserts lack the trust and rapport
between the patient and provider; but by improving that relationship and communication, it can
help lower the noncompliance of patients when it comes to seeking medical care and medical
treatment.
The availability of sufficient services to support individuals in maintaining or enhancing
their health is known as access to healthcare. Health disparities and healthcare deserts exist
because healthcare access tends to be limited or nonexistent in rural and remote communities.
The people that live in these communities’ experience health disparities related to their
socioeconomic status, race, geographic locations, and financial status. Healthcare systems and
the government must collaborate in order to find ways to lessen and ultimately eliminate
healthcare deserts and health disparities so that we can reach health equity which is the ultimate
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goal. Matthew 25:40 states “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of
the least of these brother and sisters of mine, you did for me” (King James Bible, 1611/2001,
Matthew 25:40). We are shown how important it is that we provide for those less fortunate than
we are. Healthcare professionals that are involved in promoting health equity by addressing
SDOH, advocating for policy changes, and providing direct healthcare services to these
healthcare desert and health disparities communities are living their faith by demonstrating love,
justice, and compassion. By removing healthcare deserts and health disparities there would be no
health inequities and all people would be treated equally which is what God expects his people to
do.
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References
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