We Can't Ignore Our Biases in Healthcare
3 Strategies for Building an Inclusive Healthcare Environment
Have you ever felt dismissed or unheard during a doctor's visit? I certainly have. My journey navigating the healthcare system has been fraught with moments where my symptoms were often brushed off. One particular instance stands out vividly in my mind: a routine eye exam where my optometrist assumed I could not follow instructions rather than considering a potential underlying issue.
In my instance, that underlying issue was an undiagnosed autoimmune disease and inherited retinal disease that was impacting my vision. It wasn't until my optometrist reviewed my x-rays and discovered inflammation in the back of my eye that he acknowledged his bias and referred me to an ophthalmologist who would give me the proper diagnosis and treatment.
My experience is far from unique, as people often take years to receive a proper diagnosis. However, it wasn’t until recently that I realized implicit bias might be an underlying cause. Implicit biases, which refer to the deeply ingrained stereotypes that can affect our understanding, actions, and decisions, can play a significant role in healthcare. They can influence how providers perceive and treat patients, leading to disparities in care and outcomes.
By my optometrist's admission, he had assumed I wasn’t listening instead of the visual field test accurately measuring my lack of peripheral vision. Recognizing and addressing these biases is crucial for healthcare providers to deliver equitable patient care. Due to my optometrist's implicit bias, he could not make the most obvious conclusion. It wasn’t that I wasn’t listening to instructions; I couldn’t see.
This experience underscored why it is critically important to recognize and address your implicit biases as a healthcare provider. Once my optometrist was open to doing that, my journey to equitable care began. From there, I created a healthcare team committed to overcoming these biases and prioritizing patient-centered practices.
If you’re a healthcare provider, I'm here today to shed light on the transformative power of acknowledging and dismantling implicit biases in healthcare.
3 Strategies for Building an Inclusive Healthcare Environment
Step 1: Understanding the Importance of Self-Reflection
Before addressing implicit biases in our healthcare practices, we must acknowledge their existence within ourselves. Self-reflection is the cornerstone of this process, allowing us to uncover biases that often operate beneath our conscious awareness. By examining our thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors, we can begin to identify and mitigate their impact on patient care.
Step 2: Exploring Historical and Social Context
We must consider the broader historical and social factors to grasp implicit bias's impact on health outcomes fully. Healthcare disparities experienced by marginalized communities are not isolated incidents but are deeply rooted in systemic inequities. By understanding this context, healthcare providers can better advocate for change within their institutions.
Step 3: Implementing Strategies for Equitable Healthcare
Knowledge alone is not enough to effect meaningful change. Healthcare providers must actively translate their understanding of implicit bias into actionable strategies for delivering equitable care. This requires a commitment to ongoing education and even implicit bias training, which can help challenge the status quo within healthcare systems.
Recognizing and addressing implicit biases in healthcare is a journey, not a destination. It requires dedication, humility, and a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths. But the rewards are profound: a truly equitable healthcare system.
Thus, acknowledging and addressing implicit biases is essential for healthcare providers to deliver equitable patient care. By understanding the importance of self-reflection, exploring historical and social contexts, and implementing strategies for change, we can create a healthcare environment where biases no longer dictate patient outcomes.
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