Achieving equity in referrals for renal transplant evaluations with African-American patients: the role of nephrology social workers.

Research over the last 12 years has repeatedly shown that African-American ESRD patients are less likely than white patients to be referred for a transplant evaluation. This article takes an exploratory look at issues surrounding this racial disparity. Among the issues focused on are: (a) the multiple ramifications from this racial disparity; (b) neglected factors which may be militating against the equitable referral of African-American patients; and (c) the vulnerabilities of this patient population. The final focus is on intervention strategies for nephrology social workers and how they might help to facilitate a greater equity in this area of health care with African-American patients.