Answer for NRS 460 In complex disease management, how can health care providers identify and reduce biases and discrimination that could impact patient care? Topic 3 DQ 1
Racism in healthcare is one of the problems that affect access and impact of healthcare services among persons of certain races, including Black and Latin Americans, Hispanics, and the Asian population. One of the ways healthcare providers show racism includes implicit bias, where they unconsciously stereotype patients based on their race, which makes them form an unprecedented judgment against them, resulting in unequal treatment (Hamed et al., 2022). Another example includes how different health disparities, such as poverty and certain diseases, including diabetes, obesity, preeclampsia, and hypertension, have been associated with the Black and Hispanic populations. In addition, different treatments have been associated with different races, such as the use of calcium channel blockers being effective in the Black population, which may limit access to other helpful medication. In some instances, there is racial underrepresentation, especially in minority ethnic groups, among healthcare providers and hospital management.
Healthcare providers and management may contribute to the creation of healthcare disparities. Some healthcare providers may discriminate and profile persons based on their race, where they provide the individual with a different form of treatment, resulting in a reduction in access and quality of healthcare facilities (Hamed et al., 2022). In addition, some providers may fail to respect the cultural and spiritual beliefs associated with different racial groups, which results in patients’ unacceptance of services being provided by healthcare institutions. On the other hand, societal racism may limit access to healthcare facilities and insurance policies, further deteriorating access and quality healthcare provision (Ramsoondar et al., 2023). Lastly, members of the community can contribute to discrimination and profiling of certain racial groups, which results in poor provision of housing, nutrition, employment and health services, which impact their health.
In this regard, healthcare providers must raise awareness about the different forms of racism and advocate for equal provision of healthcare services. In addition, healthcare providers should be trained on the different cultural diversities and how to deal with such challenges while providing care (Sim et al., 2021). Healthcare institutions and providers should also reflect on the provision of their services to different races and encourage members on the role of undoing biases. Lastly, healthcare institutions should also advocate for more minority racial representation and provide a standardized care system to all members, irrespective of race.
References
Hamed, S., Bradby, H., Ahlberg, B. M., & Thapar-Björkert, S. (2022). Racism in healthcare: A Scoping Review. BMC Public Health, 22(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13122-y
Ramsoondar, N., Anawati, A., & Cameron, E. (2023). Racism as a determinant of health and health care: Rapid evidence narrative from the SAFE for Health Institutions project. Canadian Family Physician, 69(9), 594. https://doi.org/10.46747/cfp.6909594
