Category: Television

Addressing Healthcare Disparities in Children of Color

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Hi, it’s Dr. Curry-Winchell, or Dr. BCW for short; I recently discussed addressing healthcare disparities in children of color with NBC News. After that conversation, I wanted to take the time to discuss these disparities in a little more detail. There have been a couple of new studies that have once again exposed these long-existing issues. For some, these might be new ideas, but for many, these unsettling realities are all to understood.

Understanding the Disparities

According to new research, children of color receive lower-quality healthcare compared to their white counterparts. This inequality manifests in various ways, including LESS frequent use of diagnostic imaging and pain medication, longer ER wait times, and higher rates of complications during and after surgery. If you are interested in reading about these you can visit these websites:

Root Causes of These Disparities

The reasons behind these disparities are complex, involving socioeconomic factors, geographical limitations, and underfunding in hospitals serving communities of color. Additionally, medical mistrust and bias play significant roles in perpetuating these inequities. Black Americans have faced these issues for a long time. Many of the biases we face are rooted in mis-held beliefs from generations past, that have continued to get propagated through societal norms, institutional practices, oral and written histories, and just our general culture. This is why many people to this day believe that black people have thicker skin or feel less pain. And it is these believes that lead to mistreatment like inadequate pain management from doctors.

Empowering Parents and Caregivers

As a parent or caregiver, it’s essential to actively advocate for your child’s health. Ensure that healthcare providers are accessible and willing to address your concerns promptly. It’s ok to ask direct questions about the diagnosis process and understand the rationale behind the treatment plan. In fact its a critical part of maintaining a healthy dialog with the provider to make sure you are heard. This approach not only empowers you with knowledge but also helps in determining if your healthcare provider is culturally competent and truly listening to your concerns.

Bridging the Gap

Closing this gap requires a collective effort. Health education and literacy are key. Understanding what quality healthcare should look like and knowing the right questions to ask can make a substantial difference. Also, acknowledging the data showing disproportionate disease rates in specific groups is critical in justifying and highlighting the ongoing issue. Finally we need to all acknowledge that bias, both conscious and unconscious are real influences on our behaviors and that these influences are having a detrimental impact on non-white people in the US. We need to get past the misconception of “I don’t see color” acknowledge that we all do and look at ourselves and those around us and think about what those observations are doing to our decision making.

Continuous Advocacy

I urge parents to persistently seek the best care possible. If the care received doesn’t meet your expectations or needs, don’t hesitate to explore other options. Remember, your health and that of your family is invaluable, and you have the right to the highest quality of care.

In closing, I thank NBC News for the highlighting this this vital issue. As we continue to work towards eliminating these disparities, remember to advocate for and prioritize your family’s health.

Stay informed and prioritize your health! – Dr. Curry-Winchell (Dr. BCW)

To see the Dr. BCW / Dr. Curry-Winchell interview on Addressing Healthcare Disparities in Children of Color: visit this link

Consequences of Pharmacy Closures in Underserved Communities

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Hi, it’s Dr. Curry-Winchell, aka Dr. BCW. Today, I want to discuss the consequences of pharmacy closures in underserved communities. It’s impossible to ignore the distressing trend in our health care landscape. A rising number of pharmacy closures, especially in underserved communities. I recently delved into this significant issue with Anne-Marie Green on CBS News. It’s clear that the implications of these closures go far beyond mere inconvenience.

For many years, major drugstore chains like Rite Aid, CVS, and Walgreens have been pillars in numerous neighborhoods, offering a vast range of essential health services. Now, as they begin to close down, the resulting implications are profound and deeply concerning, particularly for communities already struggling with limited health care access and basic services.

The Disproportionate Impact on Communities of Color

During my recent CBS interview, I highlighted that these pharmacy closures aren’t happening uniformly across regions. Disadvantaged communities of color are disproportionately affected. Deprived of access to crucial medications, essential items, and basic health screenings, these communities face a heightened risk of health disparities. 

The Growing Phenomenon of “Pharmacy Deserts”

“Pharmacy Deserts” has become a common term for areas without access to a local pharmacy. This problem is eerily reminiscent of the well-known challenge of food deserts, where many communities lack grocery stores that offer healthy foods. In my experience, there’s a clear overlap between these two challenges, especially in communities of color and rural locales. When you combine the absence of healthy food with a lack of essential medications, you end up with a silent yet burgeoning health crisis. Of course that is what these pharmacy closures are doing. They are hurting health care access. 

The Broad-ranging Effects on Health Services

Pharmacies offer so much more than merely prescription medications. They provide critical health services like blood pressure monitors, over the counter medicine, and vital check-ins such as COVID tests and vaccinations during the pandemic’s height. As these pharmacy closures continue, we’re watching essential health care touch points vanish, which makes achieving optimal health even more daunting for many.

Throughout my practice, I’ve always regarded the local pharmacy as a vital partner in ensuring patient care. The diminishing presence of these pharmacies, driven by an array of factors, including industry shifts and economic challenges, is directly impacting patient care in ways many might not immediately recognize.

Conclusion

The broader issue here is not just about pharmacy closures or businesses shutting their doors. This crisis affects the health, well-being, and very essence of entire communities. The increasing chasm of health inequities is gravely concerning. Of course tackling this challenge demands combined efforts from all stakeholders. 

This topic deserves deeper scrutiny. I hope we can keep these issues at the forefront of conversation and continue to push towards actionable solutions. Of course in hopes that we can resolve these challenges with health care access. 

Stay informed and prioritize your health!

– Dr. Curry-Winchell (Dr. BCW)

 Check out this video from Dr. Curry-Winchell @ Dr_BCW to learn more about the consequences of pharmacy closures in underserved communities. 

Healthcare Workers Plagued With COVID-Related PTSD and Burnout

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Dr. BCW, Dr. Curry-Winchell, works with Inside Edition to deliver an article and short video on COVID-Related PTSD and Burnout in Healthcare workers.

For some outside of the medical industry it might seem like the everything is just back to normal.  But for many healthcare workers the COVID pandemic has left an indelible impact on them mentally and emotionally.  The COVID pandemic brought fear, uncertainty, loss and long hours which were initially met with gratitude but as the pandemic wore on it also began to bring more and more frustrated patients that were angry with doctors and the entire healthcare system for a situation they believed as all a hoax.  There is a lot to deal with as a medical provider on a day in day out basis during “normal times” but the COVID pandemic was anything but normal and the extra stressors have seriously impacted medical providers and they are just starting to realize the impact the pandemic had.  This short article and video from Inside Edition was a great acknowledgement of the situation.  If you are in healthcare or have a loved one that works in the health care system, please make sure to check in on them and make sure they are dealing with the pandemic fall out and if they are experiencing COVID-Related PTSD please find them help.

See the whole story here @ Inside Edition

Dr. Curry-Winchell