When Physicians Terminate Patients: Assessing the Effects of Termination on Health Disparities, the Benefits of Cultural Competency, and Viable Solutions

Despite efforts to curb health disparities within the United States, the inequalities remain. Consequently, this thesis aims to reduce health disparities by examining patient termination due to a lack of cultural competency within a vaccination framework. This thesis begins by reviewing health disparities and the role of termination within medical care. That section is followed by a discussion of the barriers to cultural competency as a reason for termination using vaccination as a case study. Next, the thesis analyzes the benefits of cultural competency. It concludes with viable solutions and examples to improve health and health care within the United States.