PA Offers Strategies for Dealing with Racist Patients and Bias in Health Care
Health care professionals often face challenging situations, including dealing with racism and discrimination from their patients.
“You have to acknowledge that racism is an issue and be prepared to respond and support those affected,” said Kimberly Sapre, DMSc, PA-C, CAQ-EM, DFAAPA, President and Executive Director of the Virginia Association of Minority PAs. “It’s really uncomfortable when a patient expresses their beliefs in subtle ways, but you have to manage that internal struggle and talk to your supervisors about it.”
Sapre, an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Shenandoah University and Chair for the AAPA Commission on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, offers PAs effective strategies for handling encounters with racist patients, as well as advice for when you notice your health care colleagues facing discrimination.