Do microaggressions and discrimination impact the patient experience in your ED?  How can we address this?

This article is one of few studies to address this topic specifically in the ED. Authors used quantitative (discrimination scale) and qualitative (follow-up interviews) methods to answer this question in two urban academic EDs.  

Common themes from patient responses provide food for thought and action in this regard:

• Clinician behaviors: Positive behaviors included frequent communication, reassurance, privacy, respect, and validation of concerns. Empathy and eye contact were also mentioned.
• Healthcare team actions: Positive interactions with clinicians reassured confidence in the emergency care visit and willingness to return for future health care.
• Environmental pressures in the ED: Participants often noted long wait times and busy staff when describing negative ED experiences.
• Hesitancy to Complain: Patients were hesitant to identify staff members, did not feel that the complaint would be acted on, and worried that their medical care would suffer if they brought up their concerns.

References

Punches BE, Osuji E, Bischof JJ, et al. Patient perceptions of microaggressions and discrimination toward patients during emergency department care. Acad Emerg Med. 2023; 30: 1192-1200. doi:10.1111/acem.14767