Implicit bias in healthcare is the generalized notion that specific groups of people respond differently to certain treatments. A classic example of implicit bias is the notion of "man flu," the idea that men are wimpier in handling illness and more likely to just be whining. Therefore, doctors and nurses often handle male patients' cases differently than they would women's concerns.
There are serious consequences for patient outcomes when implicit bias is in play. If you see the following four signs of trouble, you may want to consider arranging an online implicit bias class for healthcare providers.
Differences in Diagnoses and Treatments
Watch how your professionals are handling diagnoses and prescribing treatments. For example, there have long been racial biases evident in the prescription of painkillers. Doctors have frequently favored prescribing painkillers to white Americans over members of other racial groups. While the racial makeup of a community will be evident in any hospital or clinic, there can still be some surprising biases. An online implicit bias class for healthcare professionals will help you to spot the signs that something is affecting care.
Patient Outcomes
The measure of all things in the medical industry is the patient's outcome. Implicit bias often shows up in the form of heightened mortality. For example, historically women have been more likely to go without treatment for heart-related diseases. The implicit bias tends to be that heart disease is a man's problem and that women are more likely to suffer something like a panic attack. If your hospital sees a disproportionate number of adverse outcomes for women with heart disease, you may want to consider implicit bias as the problem.
Distrust
People are never wild about going to the doctor. However, there's a line between disliking hospitals and distrusting medical professionals. If multiple patient surveys indicate that members of the public don't trust your staff members, implicit bias could be the culprit. Patients may not trust the doctors because they sense the differences in care.
Communication Difficulties
Some professionals struggle to communicate well with certain groups. Although cultural norms vary, it's important for doctors, nurses, and administrators to work diligently to communicate medical issues well to all patients. Even if a community has a large population of first-generation immigrants who don't speak English well, the imperative has to be to communicate better to improve patient outcomes. If you're seeing signs that some members of your community are underserved at your organization, think about the implicit biases.
For more information on online implicit bias classes for healthcare providers, contact a company near you.
Share30 March 2023
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