There is no denying that racism is alive and well, prospering at an alarming rate and occurring daily. Let’s use the healthcare system as an example. Research indicates that African American patients in the United States have long received suboptimal care relative to white patients when seeking medical treatment. Today we will look at some astonishing statistics in healthcare and how they relate to race. While also examining how racism affects the healthcare system today.
Facts and Figures
According to the CDC, data shows that racial and ethnic minority groups throughout the United States experience higher rates of illnesses and death across a wide range of health conditions. Compared with white Americans, Black Americans die prematurely from all types of diseases, including diabetes, hypertension, stroke, and recently, COVID-19.
Furthermore, compared to other developed countries, maternal and infant mortality rates are higher in the United States.
Black mothers are at least three times more likely to die due to complications in childbirth. Additionally, black newborns die 250% more often than white newborns in the United States. Factors such as socioeconomic level do contribute to these statistics. However, black women and children of any income and education level are at a greater risk of complications and death.
Racism in Healthcare
Institutional Racism
Next, institutional racism is a form of racism that represents actions, policies, and practices that results in ethical/racial inequalities in life outcomes. Healthcare is a typical example where institutional racism occurs yet remains invisible. Unfortunately, institutional racism is not easy to detect. It is rarely visible to those privileged by it. Sometimes undetectable to those impacted by it.
Implicit Bias
Likewise, bias affects the healthcare system today. Implicit bias is a form of bias that occurs automatically and unintentionally and nevertheless affects judgments, decisions, and behaviors. Implicit bias by medical practitioners and in the healthcare system plays a role in adverse health outcomes for people of color. Implicit bias can alter our perception, affect our active listening and non-judgmental attitude, make objective decisions, and communicate effectively with others.
Life Example
A prime example of institutional racism is access to medical care. Urban and ethnic communities typically have reduced access to efficient hospitals and clinics. The hospitals and clinics in these areas are often underfunded. Meaning supplies, funds, and resources are not readily available. Therefore, patients in these areas may not receive the care they need causing patients to travel to receive sufficient medical treatment. Differences in treatment regimes, and cultural barriers to healthcare service use, constitute evidence of institutional racism.
Next, implicit bias in healthcare can have deadly effects. Active listening is critical when assessing patients. For example, black Americans complaining of pain; have been assumed to be drug-seekers. Leading black Americans to be denied or receive less pain medication than other patients. Moreover, when medical staff does not actively listen to their patients, they are not taking the necessary time or using effective communication to assess and treat their patients. Fortunately, implicit bias can be mitigated with awareness and effective bias-reduction strategies.
Combating Racism in Healthcare
In brief, for black Americans to gain trust in our healthcare system again, providers must treat every patient equally regardless of skin color. Hospitals and clinics should provide training and education to their staff to decrease discrimination and bias within their facility. Medical facilities in urban and ethnic communities need adequate resources allocated to them to operate efficiently.
Additionally, black Americans must advocate for themselves. Speak up whenever they feel discriminated against by medical staff. Understanding and acknowledging the differences in medical treatment and care black Americans receive will help decrease the racial disparities black men, women, and children face in healthcare.