Page 2 - Health Inequity Care Summary Report

Summary of the Key Findings

Introduction

The facts regarding health care inequalities were presented by the panelists, the information in the event’s
program and the recent events with the COVID-19 pandemic which underscore the health care inequities.

The following summary represents the personal experiences and thinking on health care inequities of the
lay people and all levels of health care providers present at the Big Conversation. These participants live
and work in Southern Maryland. The information is divided into three parts: the general issues, addressing
local issues and addressing general and systemic issues. While some of the inequity issues are based in
systemic problems that must be addressed at all levels of our society, there are specific issues that our
Southern Maryland community can work to acknowledge and improve, if not erase.

General Issues

Acknowledgement

The first step to be taken, as a community, is to acknowledge that there are significant inequities in health
care here in Southern Maryland. Once that happens, then the steps toward reparation and reconciliation
can begin.

History

Know the true history. Presenting a brief history of racism and health in Southern Maryland was eye
opening to many of the attendees (55/112 mentioned it in the survey). Having a knowledge and
understanding of local African American history in health is essential. It provides insight into the
inequities and lack of trust that are experienced by people of color today. Hearing it created a foundation
of understanding for the rest of the information for the day. Understanding the history provides a context
for most of the issues that follow in this summary. An example, a factor influencing why people of color
resist vaccinations is more clearly understood when one knows about the Tuskegee experiments. Many
expressed the need to preserve this local history by getting this information into the schools, libraries, and
historical societies in Southern Maryland.

Bias and Discrimination

Bias and Discrimination is perceived as existing at all levels of health care. It exists between the patient
and the providers and health care worker to health care worker. The personal stories were powerful. For
the white population, there is a lack of seeing their privilege in relation to people of color and what they
experience. White participants expressed shock at not realizing that these behaviors existed within their
own work and community environments. Health care participants reported that people at all levels within
health care either overlook it, ignore it or do not see it. Discrimination by physicians is perceived as
marginalizing patients based on patient race, economic status, insurance, and substance abuse.
Marginalized patients are treated different such as people of color with chronic pain are often regarded as
drug seekers instead of having their actual pain level addressed. Sexism compounds the problems leading
to lack of treatment, for instance local women of color have a higher childbirth morbidity rate. Medical

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