Vulnerable populations in the United States

"We have written this book to call attention among policymakers, health care providers, social scientists, public health practitioners, students of these fields, and the general public to the persistent inequitable health and health care experiences of vulnerable populations in the United States. Achieving a high level of population health status is commensurate with the worldwide leadership position of the United States. Without attention to reducing these disparities within the nation, the United States will continue to spend more but have significantly poorer health across many indicators when compared with other industrialized nations. By providing this up-to-date account of disparities in access, quality, and health status of the nation's more vulnerable populations, this book heightens awareness of the challenges we face and measures progress that has been made toward reducing health and health care disparities."