Bias and the Psychological Safety in Healthcare Teams

The levels of biases, stereotypes, and prejudices are present at the same level within our healthcare teams as they are in society in general. The effect of biases on teams, team development, and team functioning is less known, but what to do with bias is known and important for all healthcare clinicians to understand. Exploring bias and psychological safety is vital for optimal team development. Teams need trust, sense of belonging, and a culture of open communication to provide the best care possible for their patients; yet often teams do not address their own biases or stereotypes nor do they feel prepared to open these conversations. In this article, we present a case study, provide definitions of bias and psychological safety, as well as offer strategies to combat biases, provide steps all of the healthcare team can employ to promote belongingness in the interprofessional team, and offer strategies of supporting team members experiencing biases.