In recent years, there has been an increase in foundationalin foundational professional education that addresses disparities in health care. While effective, mosteffective, most of these educational interventions have focused on closing practice gaps for health care practitioners (HCPs) only, leaving non-HCP employees out of the process. Yet, the patient experience begins the moment an individual interacts with office staff – well before the first clinical interaction even takes place. Indeed, any insensitivity or bias perceived by patients at these early points of contact – either implicit or explicit – can set the stage for suboptimal patient participation in shared decision -making, increased nonadherence to critical recommendations and therapies, or patients lost to follow-up.
In this CME Outfitters Snack, faculty with expertise in both cardiology and health care administration will provide education to the entire cardiology practice office staff. Topics will cover foundational diversity, equity, and inclusivity (DEI) concepts, including root causes of disparities in health care, institutional racism, implicit bias, social determinants of health, and actionable, interpersonal strategies to promote respectful care.
