{"id":14796,"date":"2020-08-06T09:00:01","date_gmt":"2020-08-06T13:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=14796"},"modified":"2020-08-05T16:39:19","modified_gmt":"2020-08-05T20:39:19","slug":"minority-health-questions-to-ask-a-doctor-bipoc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/minority-health-questions-to-ask-a-doctor-bipoc\/","title":{"rendered":"9 questions to ask a doctor if you\u2019re Black, Indigenous, or a person of color"},"content":{"rendered":"

Going to the doctor<\/span><\/a> can be nerve-wracking for anyone\u2014especially if you\u2019ve been putting it off for a while or have a health concern you\u2019re worried about. If you\u2019re Black, Indigenous, or a person of color (BIPOC), you might feel a little extra anxiety that racial discrimination could keep your concerns from being heard. <\/span>There are existing ethnic and racial disparities<\/span><\/a> in health care\u2014for various reasons, health outcomes are worse than for those of white patients.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEvery person who engages with a healthcare team, regardless of background, should feel agency and be an equal participant in conversations and discussions about their health,\u201d says <\/span>Melissa Simon<\/span><\/a>, MD, the director of the Institute for Public Health and Medicine – Center for Health Equity Transformation at Northwestern University\u2019s Feinberg School of Medicine. \u201cIt\u2019s important to acknowledge that BIPOC have more distrust for very valid reasons after having experienced decades of maltreatment from the healthcare system.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Open communication can help to build back that trust, and it starts with patients feeling empowered to ask questions\u2014and receive thoughtful answers\u2014about their health. A strong relationship with a primary care provider is the foundation for understanding minority health issues and alleviating fears.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

9 questions to ask a doctor if you\u2019re Black, Indigenous, or a person of color<\/span><\/h2>\n

While there are various\u00a0<\/span>general questions<\/span><\/a> that are important for all patients to cover with their doctor, there are additional things Black, Indigenous, and people of color should ask to ensure their concerns aren\u2019t overlooked or brushed aside.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. What are my rights as a patient?<\/span><\/h3>\n

There are well-established patient rights that every clinic, hospital, and entity that delivers health care has on hand, often in the form of a pamphlet, Dr. Simon says. <\/span>Non-minorities receive higher quality care<\/span><\/a> than Black, Indigenous, people of color\u2014even when access factors like insurance status and income are controlled.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Asking for that document can help you recognize if you\u2019re receiving subpar treatment. If you feel that as a patient or a caregiver, your needs aren\u2019t being met or heard, then you can say so directly to your healthcare provider. Or, it can be a good reason to choose another physician\u2014either at that facility or elsewhere.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Why do you want to run that test?<\/span><\/h3>\n

Healthcare providers are taught to come up with a list of differential diagnoses or possible causes for your symptoms, Dr. Simon explains. Everything on that list of potential conditions has a set of procedures, such as blood or imaging tests to confirm a specific diagnosis. Healthcare providers don\u2019t always go through the entire list\u2014and why they are ordering certain tests\u2014often because they only have 15 to 30 minutes allotted for each patient. Or, they struggle with the complexity of explaining these possibilities.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBecause of underlying bias and racism of some healthcare providers and health systems coupled with the distrust of some patients (mostly due to decades of historical mistreatment with the health care system and experiences of racism and discrimination), patients of color should indeed feel empowered and feel agency to ask these questions,\u201d Dr. Simon says. \u201cAsking these questions can help patients to better feel that they are being heard by their clinical care providers and these questions help a patient better understand what they personally may have and why.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

3. What will the results of this test or procedure tell us?<\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

\u201cThere are many times when patients need guidance and don\u2019t necessarily understand the risks, benefits, and complications of certain procedures, so going through all of this with a provider can leave them feeling a bit reassured,\u201d explains <\/span>Soma Mandal<\/span><\/a>, MD, an internist at Summit Medical Group in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey. You\u2019re not expected to know everything as far as terms and statistics. Your provider should be your resource and advocate.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dr. Simon suggests that when a doctor says \u201cThis is what I think is going on,\u201d the response from you as a patient should be \u201cCan you tell me whatever else you\u2019re considering that could be going on?\u201d If a test comes out negative and you\u2019re still concerned about the symptoms you\u2019re experiencing, it\u2019s especially important to go over other conditions that could be causing your symptoms, according to Dr. Simon.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

4. How many times have you performed this procedure?<\/span><\/h3>\n

Undergoing a procedure can be stressful, but knowing your doctor\u2019s experience with it can help put your mind at ease. In her practice, Dr. Mandal says she sees a lot of women of color in her practice and advises them on what to ask a specialist before undergoing certain procedures and surgeries. And it can be as simple as, \u201cHow many times have you done this?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is one of many questions that women of color often don\u2019t ask because they feel like they may come across as demanding or intrusive,\u201d Dr. Mandal explains. \u201cBut this is something that\u2019s important for everyone to ask.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

If your specialist is someone who has performed a certain procedure over 1,000 times, you\u2019ll know that they\u2019re confident and comfortable in performing it.<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Do I need any additional screenings?<\/span><\/h3>\n

White patients are more likely to receive preventive screenings and advice on maintaining a healthy lifestyle through diet and exercise. For example, Native Americans\/Native Alaskans are less likely than whites to receive colorectal cancer screening. On top of that, certain minority groups have higher risk for certain chronic conditions, such as diabetes. The rates among African Americans, Latinx, and Native Americans are 2.8 times higher than the average population. Access to health care may also be limited disproportionately given the <\/span>higher percentage of people uninsured<\/span><\/a> in these groups.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There is evidence that harmful products such as unhealthy food, alcohol, and tobacco are disproportionately marketed toward Black, Indigenous, people of color. Over-consumption can lead to health problems including heart disease, liver problems, and lung cancer. These factors combined may mean that you need additional exams or tests at your yearly physical to catch any issues early, when they are most treatable. If you don\u2019t have health insurance, you can find free clinics in your area <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

6. How can I reduce my COVID-19 risk?<\/span><\/h3>\n

Coronavirus has disproportionately affected Black, Indigenous, people of color. Racial and ethnic minority groups are at higher risk of getting sick and dying from the novel coronavirus, according to the <\/span>Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/span><\/a> (CDC). A variety of factors contribute to this risk\u2014from discrimination to distrust of the healthcare system. Candid conversations with your healthcare provider can help to alleviate some of those fears and reduce your chances of infection.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere are still a lot of people who don\u2019t want to be tested, so by asking questions and understanding why this testing is being done, why masks are important, how contagious the virus is, etc., you can understand that it\u2019s being done in order to give you the best care possible,\u201d Dr. Simon says.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

7. Would you recommend a second opinion?<\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

This is a question you may bring back to your primary care provider after getting a diagnosis from a specialist. A second opinion can help to confirm what the first doctor may have said and bring you additional peace of mind that the care plan is the best course of action. \u201cIf it\u2019s a particularly lengthy procedure or the diagnosis is serious, such as a joint replacement, or it\u2019s a non-life-threatening condition that would require surgery, I always advocate getting a second opinion just to back up that initial recommendation,\u201d Dr. Mandal says.<\/span><\/p>\n

Certain procedures are over-performed for Black, Indigenous, people of color. One example is unnecessary hysterectomies, which can come with the risk of urinary incontinence as you get older and have <\/span>statistically been over-performed in Black women<\/span><\/a>. Caesarian sections have also been over-performed in Black women even when they haven\u2019t proven to be medically necessary, <\/span>according to a 2017 study<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In other cases, care is substandard. Procedures like <\/span>joint replacements<\/span><\/a> are actually performed on Black patients less than in white patients, and Black patients are also less likely to receive <\/span>cardiac catheterization<\/span><\/a> even though heart disease rates are higher. Asian Americans are less likely than whites to receive recommended hospital care for pneumonia. \u201cIn these situations, I\u2019ll sit down with my patients and educate them as to why (a certain procedure) may not be needed and what other procedures may be available that weren\u2019t even offered to them,\u201d Dr. Mandal explains.<\/span><\/p>\n

8. Can we schedule another visit?<\/span><\/h3>\n

If you don\u2019t agree with what you\u2019re hearing and don\u2019t have enough time in your visit, you should ask to set up another appointment to continue the conversation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

White patients often ask more questions and request additional info, according to Dr. Simon, while BIPOC patients tend to feel unheard or not listened to in healthcare settings. Socioeconomic background also plays a major role in terms of how much a person asks questions to their providers. \u201cIt\u2019s important for <\/span>all<\/span><\/i> patients to ask for another visit if they don\u2019t feel like there is real resolution to what they are feeling,\u201d she says.<\/span><\/p>\n

You can also ask the doctor to point you toward more information or materials for you to review on your own so you can learn more about your potential situation before coming back to discuss your additional questions and concerns.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

9. What other patient resources are available to me?<\/span><\/h3>\n

Most community health centers, clinics, and hospitals have a patient services department where you can voice and attempt to resolve certain concerns, or seek a second opinion from an alternate provider. Some hospitals also have health learning centers, similar to libraries, where staff can help you find information about your concern or diagnosis and help you better communicate your concerns with your healthcare provider.<\/span><\/p>\n

Additionally, all hospitals, healthcare institutions, and clinics have some kind of financial support department or service in place. BIPOC have less access to healthcare than Whites\u2014the rates of uninsurance or under-insurance are higher. If you get a bill from the hospital, you\u2019re concerned that your insurance isn\u2019t going to cover everything that you need, or you don\u2019t have insurance and you\u2019re concerned about how much something is going to cost, you can often speak to the financial services department about it. If you don\u2019t have insurance, you can try to negotiate a lower price or see if there are other resources available that could be applied to your bill for the services you\u2019re receiving.<\/span><\/p>\n

The bottom line<\/span><\/h2>\n

The conversation between a healthcare provider and patient is crucial to build trust and confidence from the patient\u2019s perspective that their provider actually listens, cares, and is genuinely concerned.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAt the end of the day, you are your own expert on you,\u201d Dr. Simon says. \u201cIt\u2019s key to know that you have every right to be heard and that your feelings are valid.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Going to the doctor can be nerve-wracking for anyone\u2014especially if you\u2019ve been putting it off for a while or have a health concern you\u2019re worried about. If you\u2019re Black, Indigenous, or a person of color (BIPOC), you might feel a little extra anxiety that racial discrimination could keep your concerns from being heard. There are […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":85,"featured_media":13587,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8029],"tags":[729],"coauthors":[19455],"class_list":["post-14796","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-education","tag-doctor-visits","wpautop"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nMinority health: 9 questions BIPOC patients should ask a doctor<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) have a higher risk of health problems yet minority healthcare is less accessible and often subpar quality.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/minority-health-questions-to-ask-a-doctor-bipoc\/\" \/>\n<meta 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