Kaiser Family Foundation conducted research on young men and women's experiences with healthcare and found the following. For the full research article click here.
Primary Findings:
29% of Women reported their doctor had dismissed their concerns
15% Reported that a prvider did not believe they were telling the truth
19% Say their doctor assumed something about them without asking
13% say that a provider suggested they were personally to blame for a health problem
38% of Women in the study had at least one negative experiences with healthcare as opposed to 32% of men
Almost 10% of women (ages 18-64) say they experienced discrimination because of their age, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion or another personal characteristic during a visit
58% report that in the past two years their provider asked them about what kind of work they do-- Far fewer report having been asked about their housing situation (30%), their ability to afford food (20%), or access to reliable transportation (20%)
Women with Medicaid and those with low incomes are more likely to say they have been asked about their housing situation, ability to afford food and reliable transportation.
Things you can do to avoid some poor experiences:
- If possible, find a healthcare provider when you Do Not have a urgent physical or mental need. Try when it's not urgent and you are not force to choose the first name encountered.
- Research your healthcare provider and analyze the online and word-of-mouth reviews
- Make a digital note with your phone of the top 3 issues you are wanting to resolve
- Be honest with the provider if you feel uncomfortable. Be verbal or write a note to the provider
- Pay attention to the provider's weekly availablity to make sure it matches your needs
There are other ways to reduce the potential of a bad encounter. Overall- plan your encounter!