Segregation and Discrimination in Medical Care in the United States

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Abstract
Racial integration of medical or health services has progressed notably in the past 20 years. In 1936, of 73 Negro graduates of medical schools in the United States, all but 8 received their degrees from Howard or Meharry. Membership in professional societies was restricted if not closed. Of 7 states surveyed in 1930, 1 employed 2 Negro physicians on a part-time basis and 3 employed 29 Negro nurses. In 1946, the American Nurses Association established a direct national membership for nurses who were not admitted to membership in their county societies. The Baltimore County Medical Society in Maryland opened its doors to Negro doctors in 1948. The U. of Arkansas in 1948 became the first of 26 southern medical schools to admit a Negro. Negro students enrolled in medical schools in the North increased to 118. Internships and residencies opened in about 16 more institutions in 1948. Although the proportion of Negro students in medical schools in 1955 was still small, it was up to 2.5% in Michigan. Nevertheless, 8 of the once restricted southern medical schools in 1955 had a total of 43 Negro medical students. All southern State Medical Societies, with the exception of Louisiana and possibly North Carolina, have opened their rolls to Negro physicians. The Negro dentist in the South, however, is still barred from membership in the American Dental Assoc. Four-fifths of the general hospitals in the North now offer patient care without racial distinction, but such integration applies in only 4 of 69 general hospitals in the South. About 10% of the northern hospitals offer residencies to Negro physicians and 20% permit membership on the active staff. Staff privileges are somewhat more available in southern hospitals, where Negro physicians are expected to serve patients in segregated wards. Services provided by health departments in the North are predominantly but not wholly integrated. Of 23 cities, 13 reported employment of Negro professionals in official health agencies. Of 8 southern cities, only 2 reported integrated services, and all employed Negro professionals.