January 11, 2022

Addressing Bias in Patient Care: Part 1 of 2

How can EMS educators and leaders help prevent bias in patient care? One way is to make the unconscious conscious. We welcome guests Katie O’Connor, EMS Educator and simulation expert in LA County and Washington D.C.’s GWU, and Sahaj Khalsa, Santa Fe (NM) Community College's EMS Program Director. Prodigy's Medical Director Dr. Maia Dorsett also weighs in. Our guests discuss the importance of definitions, why words matter and the prevalence of bias in simulation (racial, age, gender, etc.). They give tips on how to normalize the discussion, destigmatize bias and not always use white male manikins.

How can EMS educators and leaders help prevent bias in patient care? One way is to make the unconscious conscious.  We welcome guests Katie O’Connor, EMS Educator and simulation expert in LA County and Washington D.C.’s GWU, and Sahaj Khalsa, Santa Fe (NM) Community College's EMS Program Director.  Prodigy's Medical Director Dr. Maia Dorsett also weighs in. Our guests discuss the importance of definitions, why words matter and the prevalence of bias in simulation (racial, age, gender, etc.).  They give tips on how to normalize the discussion, destigmatize bias and not always use white male manikins.  

If you’re an educator, chief, EMS employer, look at your data around this issue. Look at your scenarios and what they are reinforcing.  Your clinicians will respond and improve.

Look for Part 2, Addressing Bias in Your Agency, to be released in July!

Mentioned in the episode:

Influence of patient race on administration of analgesia by student paramedics

Get in touch with our guests:

Sahaj Khalsa: @ssk040

Katie O'Connor: @kathleenoco

maiadorsett@gmail.com 

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