Researchers led by Garth Rauscher, PhD, from the University of Illinois at Chicago found that racial and ethnic minority patients were more likely to experience treatment delay and less likely to have a sentinel node biopsy or report being recommended for hormone therapy.
"These analyses are the first that we are aware of to examine whether access to accredited versus nonaccredited facilities at initial presentation might influence later medical events during diagnosis and treatment," the team wrote.
Hospitals that have fewer resources are often designated by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as "disproportionate share hospitals." Researchers say these hospitals serve a disproportionate number of low-income patients and provide a substantial amount of uncompensated care.