Mitigating Implicit Bias in the Pharmacy Setting

Course overview

Health equity is an important concept in healthcare. It signifies a society where all members can receive quality healthcare; however, this goal has not been fully attained as health disparities are present in healthcare. Health disparities occur when there is an unequal delivery of healthcare services to patients of a specific race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status. Moreover, health disparities may be due, in part, to the unconscious or implicit bias of a provider. Implicit biases are present in all areas of healthcare, including pharmacy settings. In order to confront and mitigate implicit bias, pharmacists and pharmacy staff must first understand how it can manifest in the pharmacy setting, and how it can affect clinical judgment and behavior, patient trust, and patient adherence to treatment plans. Once implicit bias is acknowledged, strategies can be developed to mitigate it.