Racial Disparities in Healthcare: Are We Prepared for the Future? Brief Report on Emergency Medical Services in a County Health Department in California

Table 1

Patient perception, language, and definitions of emergency in ethnic minority groups with the emergency medical service challenge areas.

Ethnic minority groups	Patient perception	Language	Some examples of patient definitions of emergency	Some examples of emergency medical service challenge areas
African American	“Religion is an important part of the community”	English, monolingual	“Injury or situation that needs immediate professional help”	“EMS workers should listen to each of us to learn more about our culture”
Lao, Khmu, Mien	“Religion is a community of culture”	Laotian, monolingual	“Bleeding, fainting, broken bones, body aches, heart attack and stroke”	“1st generations use herbs when sick instead of drugs” “2nd/3rd generations use traditional practices only after attempting western medical practices”
Hispanic	“Important to community”	Spanish, monolingual	“Heart attack, breathing difficulties, loss of consciousness, bleeding, intense pain, self-care incompetence”	“Cultural healers treat ailments with teas and herbs for different ailments, praying to virgin Mary and saints for healing”
Russian	“Food, tradition, funeral arrangements are important parts of culture”	Russian, monolingual	“Falls, stroke, heart attack, breathing difficulties, kidney stones, high blood pressure, migraine headaches”	“The use of warm pads and heating ointments instead of ice.” “When sick, we prefer room temperature water and no ice/cold water”
Vietnamese	“Religion & Ancestor worship is important”	Vietnamese, monolingual	“Life or death, health issues, breathing difficulties, sudden sickness”	“Scratch of wind practice, skin slicing, poking to release blood, herbal alcohol, steaming and Praying to the Spirit.”