Navigating the World of Healthcare: Advocacy for Black Women

always remember that someone else’s discomfort is not more important than your health

With this being my first blog post, I decided to touch on a topic that has been brought to the light (even more so than it was before) since the start of the COVID-19 Pandemic. As someone with Chronic illness surrounded by people who work in the healthcare industry, the disparities in the health care industry have never been more apparent, and I am sure I am not the only one aware of this. The relationship between Black women and medicine has included unethical treatment, dismissal, invalidation, and a lot more unacceptable things. Oddly enough, the only time we were the focus of this industry was right before slavery ended, but this was only to make sure we were producing enough children to keep the system of slavery up and running.

The misconceptions surrounding black women who are still being referenced today in medical books (yes, they still believe that we don’t feel pain) are a main reason why history has not advanced as far as we would like. A recent 2022 study done by the American Psychological Association found that a majority of med students and doctors have a negative perspectives of Black patients before they even speak. There have also been studies done that show that a black person with the same ailment as a white person gets less dosage of treatment.

After some good experiences with doctors (all doctors of color) and some horrible experiences, I have compiled a list of ways to make sure we are getting the best care possible and not just becoming another statistic.

Understand Your Symptoms

Making sure you know how to describe your pain is essential before making that call to schedule an appointment at a hospital. This leaves less room for misinterpretation on your end and their end. This also helps to ensure you get the right tests done.

Give it Time

This one is based on your discretion. Often when we feel sick, we are quick to go to the doctor or ER, whether this be due to family history or own fear. I always suggest waiting day or to before hitting up your physician, because I’m sure they would most likely say “it’s too early to know” prescribe you meds and send you on your way.

Getting to know your care team

This is an essential step in making sure you don’t end up in the wrong hands. As I mentioned before, there are a lot of people who misuse their ability to heal. Getting to know your doctor through a good search or simply asking questions before getting to the nitty gritty is an easy way to prevent a lot of errors and illegal practices. You also feel more confident going into the

appointment.

Inform a Trusted Individual

Unfortunately, we live in a world where sharing your location is best practice if you want to

make it back safely. There have been countless stories where someone goes to the hospital for something minor and doesn’t make it back home. Having someone there with you, or at the very least having someone who is knowledgeable on your health issues and whereabouts couldn’t hurt.

Ask Questions

As an introvert and former people-pleaser, this is something I struggled with in the past. Speaking up or yourself and letting them know that you are somewhat knowledgeable of what is happening (reference step 1) is a good way to force them to adequately treat you. As I’m sure you’ve heard, there is no such thing as a stupid question, especially when it comes to your health.

TRUST YOUR GUT

If you take anything away from this post, let it be this. If you are unsure or feeling uneasy about being in a certain place, leave. Simple as that! If you forget all the steps above and end up going through an appointment that you were unsure about, get a second opinion!