“I See What You Do”: A patient’s view of equity

Abstract

As a Black woman and a patient, the author describes what it is like navigating healthcare as a person of color in the U.S. Fully aware of the disparities that exist in healthcare, she shares her personal roadmap for assessing equity as a patient searching for a new provider. In the absence of standardized ways to assess equitable outcomes, she has created her own metrics and uses them to draw her own conclusions. From her experience as a Patient and Family Advisor, the author provides clues for assessing diversity within healthcare organizations. Imagining a new existence in healthcare, the author calls for organizations to look inside at their practices and policies to do this new thing called equity. A transformed healthcare system can become a reality but only in those organizations where “what you do” matches “what you say.” Experience Framework This article is associated with the Patient, Family & Community Engagement lens of The Beryl Institute Experience Framework (https://www.theberylinstitute.org/ExperienceFramework). Access other PXJ articles related to this lens. Access other resources related to this lens.

Keywords

• disparities
• diversity
• equity
• implicit bias
• equitable care
• cultural competence
• harm
• safety