Bayou Region Analysis

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The Bayou Region of Louisiana has seen a consistent increase of environmental disasters which have negatively impacted the physical, emotional, and financial well beings of residents in these parishes. Over the past decade, as a result of tragedies such as Hurricanes Gustav, Katrina, Rita and the BP oil spill. The Health Resource Services Administration defines medically underserved as having a physician shortage of primary care providers, high rates of infant deaths, high poverty or high elderly population. Despite the continual efforts to stabilize healthcare delivery in this region we have seen a significant increase in infectious diseases, chronic illnesses, mental health disorders and other healthcare disparities for minorities in this population. The majority of these patients are low-income, 65% are uninsured, 13% have Medicaid and 75 % are minorities inclusive of African Americans, Hispanic and others. In this group, the three top variables which contributed to barriers to care was lack of finance, education and transportation to facilities. …show more content…

Historically, when there is a report of medical mistreatment or neglect at the hands of healthcare providers the news spreads rapidly throughout each parish and builds apprehension amongst the community and increases there doubt for receiving regular care. (Armstrong, Putt, Halbert, Grande etal 2013). Results also showed there was an extremely high rate of depression amongst minority groups who were living below the federal policy level. In addition to depression, anxiety was also present and contributed to other illnesses; such as post-traumatic stress disorder and substance