Institute of Medicine's Report on Unequal Treatment

The Institute of Medicine's report on Unequal Treatment highlights that racial and ethnic minorities often receive lower-quality healthcare than white patients, even when they have similar conditions and insurance. Factors like biases—conscious or unconscious—lack of culturally competent care, and systemic issues contribute to disparities. These inequalities can lead to worse health outcomes for minority groups. The report emphasizes the need for healthcare providers and systems to recognize and address these disparities through better training, policies, and awareness to ensure all patients receive fair, effective care.