Report: Almost half of health care workers have witnessed racism

Nearly half of health care workers have witnessed racism, a quantitative study found. Younger and Black or Latino health workers were more likely than their older or white colleagues to report noticing discrimination against patients. Employees at health facilities with a higher percentage of Black or Latino patients observed discrimination at higher rates. Witnessing discrimination creates stress for workers, in addition to adversely affecting patient care, the authors say. Conducted by the Commonwealth Fund and the African American Research Collaborative, the researchers interviewed 3,000 health care workers in hospitals, nursing homes, outpatient care, mental health and addiction treatment centers and community or school health centers. The study is the first to quantify whether employees observe discrimination within their workplace. (USA Today article, 2/15/24)