2024 15th Annual NUBE Conference

Richard deShazo (2018) writes about  "…the unfortunate role and responsibility of organized American medicine in past and present health disparities in our country." A long history of slavery, racism and mass incarceration in the US continue to rear their pernicious heads in how we provide health care to minoritized and marginalized communities in particular.  Racial and ethnic bias have a habit of showing up stronger and often unconsciously in situations of stress, ambiguity, and time pressure.  As such, health and mental healthcare practitioners who work under these conditions in urgent and emergency care settings are susceptible to misperceptions that can lead to unequal treatment and medical error.  In fact, the National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS STANDARDS) were developed in 2001 and revised in 2013 by the Office of Minority Health specifically to provide guidance for health care administrators and practitioners to rectify these inequalities.  This is the imperative of health justice and equity in medicine and behavioral health.

This interactive and participatory session will draw from humanities and poetry to highlight the pernicious nature of bias and to illuminate the psychological, interpersonal and organizational challenges at hand. The session aims to help participants understand the perils of stereotyping in clinical settings, and will provide tangible tools and strategies for enhancing awareness. understanding, and communication skill development towards greater health equity, and practitioner and patient satisfaction with care. Moreover we will explore the power and importance of assertive and empowering communication approaches towards equity in patient advocacy. The presentation will focus on both practitioner awareness and skill development, as well as taking an organizational and healthcare team perspective on transforming how care is delivered toward the elimination of health inequities and the enhancement of health justice.

Learning Objectives:

By the conclusion of this presentation, participants will deepen their understanding of the role of bias and stereotyping in health inequities.

By the conclusion of this presentation, participants will deepen their self-reflection on biased communication with patients and family members in acute behavioral and emergency settings.

By the conclusion of this presentation, participants will grow their capacity for assertive communication in helping colleagues and team members remain accountable to the CLAS Standards of culturally and linguistically appropriate services in clinical settings.