RESUMEN:
Las mujeres en los Estados Unidos que continúan enfrentando obstáculos para acceder a la atención médica son frecuentemente denominadas una población desatendida. Los sistemas de atención médica de red de seguridad juegan un papel crucial en la mitigación de las disparidades en salud y en la reducción de las cargas de enfermedad, como el cáncer de mama, para las mujeres desatendidas. Las disparidades en la atención médica son impulsadas por diversos factores, incluyendo la raza y la etnicidad, así como factores socioeconómicos que afectan la educación, el empleo, la vivienda, el estado del seguro y el acceso a la atención médica. Las mujeres desatendidas tienen más probabilidades de estar sin seguro o con seguro insuficiente a lo largo de sus vidas. Por lo tanto, tienen mayores dificultades para acceder a la detección del cáncer de mama y son menos propensas a someterse a imágenes suplementarias cuando es necesario. Como resultado, las mujeres desatendidas a menudo experimentan retrasos significativos en el diagnóstico y tratamiento del cáncer de mama, lo que conduce a tasas de mortalidad más altas. Abordar las disparidades requiere un enfoque multifacético, con coordinación formal de la atención para ayudar a las mujeres en riesgo a navegar a través de la detección, el diagnóstico y el tratamiento. Las unidades móviles de mamografía y los programas de divulgación comunitaria pueden aprovecharse para aumentar el acceso y la participación comunitaria, así como mejorar la alfabetización en salud con iniciativas educativas. Las asociaciones entre radiología y comunidad, compuestas por prácticas de imagen asociadas con negocios locales, organizaciones basadas en la fe, refugios para personas sin hogar y departamentos de servicios públicos, son esenciales para establecer una atención de imagen mamaria culturalmente competente, con el objetivo de lograr un acceso equitativo al diagnóstico temprano y al tratamiento contemporáneo.

ABSTRACT:
Women in the United States who continue to face obstacles accessing health care are frequently termed an underserved population. Safety-net health care systems play a crucial role in mitigating health disparities and reducing burdens of disease, such as breast cancer, for underserved women. Disparities in health care are driven by various factors, including race and ethnicity, as well as socioeconomic factors that affect education, employment, housing, insurance status, and access to health care. Underserved women are more likely to be uninsured or underinsured throughout their lifetimes. Hence they have greater difficulty gaining access to breast cancer screening and are less likely to undergo supplemental imaging when needed. Therefore, underserved women often experience significant delays in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, leading to higher mortality rates. Addressing disparities requires a multifaceted approach, with formal care coordination to help at-risk women navigate through screening, diagnosis, and treatment. Mobile mammography units and community outreach programs can be leveraged to increase community access and engagement, as well as improve health literacy with educational initiatives. Radiology-community partnerships, comprised of imaging practices partnered with local businesses, faith-based organizations, homeless shelters, and public service departments, are essential to establish culturally competent breast imaging care, with the goal of equitable access to early diagnosis and contemporary treatment.

ABSTRACT:
Women in the United States who continue to face obstacles accessing health care are frequently termed an underserved population. Safety-net health care systems play a crucial role in mitigating health disparities and reducing burdens of disease, such as breast cancer, for underserved women. Disparities in health care are driven by various factors, including race and ethnicity, as well as socioeconomic factors that affect education, employment, housing, insurance status, and access to health care. Underserved women are more likely to be uninsured or underinsured throughout their lifetimes. Hence they have greater difficulty gaining access to breast cancer screening and are less likely to undergo supplemental imaging when needed. Therefore, underserved women often experience significant delays in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, leading to higher mortality rates. Addressing disparities requires a multifaceted approach, with formal care coordination to help at-risk women navigate through screening, diagnosis, and treatment. Mobile mammography units and community outreach programs can be leveraged to increase community access and engagement, as well as improve health literacy with educational initiatives. Radiology-community partnerships, comprised of imaging practices partnered with local businesses, faith-based organizations, homeless shelters, and public service departments, are essential to establish culturally competent breast imaging care, with the goal of equitable access to early diagnosis and contemporary treatment.