Health Care

• America’s Health Rankings: A Call to Action for People & Their Communities 
  The United Health Foundation notes in its latest snapshot of the U.S. health care system that Hispanics continue to suffer from a lack of access to medical care. 2007
• Hispanic HIV/AIDS Taskforce 
  The United States has a large and growing Hispanic population that is heavily affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Latinos represent one-fifth of the population estimated to be living with AIDS in the United States, including U.S. territories. From the USCCB.
• Mexican & Mexican-Americans: Health Beliefs & Practices 
  This site is intended to help health care professionals and students to better understand Hispanic patients, families, and communities. While it is impossible to make global characterizations of a culture and people with any degree of accuracy, there are commonalties and unique characteristics in every culture. This section grew out of our work in the East Dallas barrio. 2005
• Mental Health Services to the Mexican-American Community in San Antonio, TX 
  An interesting case study (1973) that offers some insights into aspects of our culture that are still relevant today. By Alberto C. Serrano, M.D. and Guadalupe Gibson, A.S.C.W.
• Health Care Coverage in America 
  Understanding the Issues & Proposed Solutions [in pdf format] 2004
• Why Hospitals Overcharge the Uninsured 
  Interesting article
• A summary about Curanderismo 
  From the American Cancer Society. Brief and very helpful. Note: They call “Mal de ojo” the “Evil Eye”, something I disagree with. Watch a curandero at work by clicking here. Here is a 1983 article called “Cross Cultural Medicine: A Visit with a Curandero” and one from 1998 entitled “Curanderismo and the DSM-IV: Diagnostic and Treatment Implications for the Mexican American Client“
• Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care  Report by the National Academy of Sciences, 2003
• Genes, Culture, and Medicines:Bridging Gaps in Treatment for Hispanics 
  Published in February 2004, this report brings together for the first time a growing body of scientific research demonstrating substantial disparities in pharmaceutical therapy for Hispanic Americans.