Salud! Addressing Latino Health Challenges
July 29-31, 2002

The University of Georgia
College of Family and Consumer Sciences
Department of Foods and Nutrition
In partnership with
DrTango, Inc. and the Latin American Association

Tuesday, July 30th, 2002
11:15-12:45 p.m.

Session: "Latino Workforce Issues and Injury Prevention": Latinos in the ER: Why They End Up There

Speaker: Dr. Leon Haley

One reason is money
o Health care spending is 14 - 15% of the Gross National Product
o 15% increase of uninsured
o 17% Medicare
o 17% Medicaid
o Remainder have insurance
o 60-70 million people are uninsured in this country. This is the major reason for African American and Hispanics coming to the emergency room.
o Injury accounts for more years of potential life lost than all life lost to cancer.
o 30 counties do not have 911 in Georgia. Very few offer 911 services in Spanish.

Grady Trauma database
o Hispanic 10.39 in 2000; 8.76 in 2001; 10.3 in 2002
o 75% of patients are male
o construction injury and car accidents profile: the injured worker
o U.S. National Health Insurance Survey 97-99: 62% are uninsured even though working

Most Common Jobs:
o Farmers, construction, groundskeepers, and manufacturing
o Hand and Eye injuries are the most common work related injuries:
o Abrasions
o Burns
o Foreign bodies
o Poor adherence to safety precautions due to education and lack of training
o Many workers are illiterate even when training is given. Many are undocumented so reluctant to ask questions and to be honest.