An African American male patient, age forty-two, was admitted to a skilled nursing unit after surgery for head and neck cancer with lymph involvement, newly diagnosed. Extensive excision of the tumor had been done, and the patient had a newly placed tracheotomy and feeding tube. What are the facts that affect this patient’s long-term care? […]

A twelve-year-old boy with terminal osteosarcoma on hospice, is reluctant to return to school after the school informed the family that his DNR request, which was signed by his physician, would not be honored at school. What additional information would you, this child’s healthcare provider, need to know and what would you do with that […]

Mrs Adams refused to take the second Covid – 19 vaccination. She argued she had previously received the first vaccination and had experienced great and extreme suffering, for a long period as a result and that one of her sons had experienced adverse events from the vaccination as well. Mrs Adams argued that the vaccine […]

The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) recommends educating physicians about implicit bias and strategies to address it to support culturally appropriate, patient-centered care and reduce health disparities. Implicit bias, defined as, ‘the attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner,’ is a contributing factor to health disparities. What […]

Health care providers maintain problematic explicit ideas about their patients. Implicit bias among providers is likely to remain and influence care in ways that perpetuate disparity and inequity. Fast thinking or quick categorization may get in the way. Does bias contribute to problems in patient–provider interactions and relationships? How? Quality of care? How? Continuity of […]