Bias and Racism Teaching Rounds at an Academic Medical Center

Area of Science:

• Medical Ethics
• Health Disparities
• Healthcare Professional Bias

Background:

• Societal racism and racial violence are prevalent issues.
• Healthcare professionals, like the general population, can hold explicit and implicit biases.
• These biases can negatively affect patient care and exacerbate health inequities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To illustrate how physician bias can endanger patients.
• To recommend strategies for mitigating bias in healthcare settings.
• To introduce a novel teaching tool for addressing bias in medical education.

Main Methods:

• Review of four case studies from academic medical centers.
• Analysis of how biases influenced clinical decision-making.
• Discussion of strategies to reduce bias and racism in patient care.

Main Results:

• Physician biases, even when unintentional, can put patients at risk.
• Bias can influence healthcare decisions, leading to disparities.
• Case examples highlight the tangible impact of bias on patient well-being.

Conclusions:

• Addressing bias and racism in healthcare is critical for equitable patient care.
• Periodic "bias and racism rounds" can serve as an effective educational tool.
• Mitigating bias is essential to reduce health disparities and foster patient trust.