"I Have a Touch of Sugar but I Can't Afford My Meds"

Abstract

In this chapter, we will explore a case involving an adult male who presents to the emergency department with foot pain, a history of diabetes mellitus, and poor compliance with medications. He relies on emergency rooms for his usual source of care and reports financial barriers to accessing care. His physical exam reveals cellulitis, and lab results reflect poorly controlled diabetes. By the conclusion of the case discussion, learners will be able to describe the ways in which socioeconomic status and health are interrelated; analyze the ways that race affects health, including the role of unconscious (implicit) bias from health care providers; and explain how the current system of health care finance impacts health outcomes.