Dr. Miguel Ruiz

Thank you, Sheridan. This is so important. And you are absolutely right. And I think I should have clarified this from the get-go that it's not just about skin color. There are so many other categories of disparity. So thank you for bringing those up. Yeah, it is black. It's a woman. It's poor. is with a family member in jail. I mean, the intersectionality there is just huge.

Thank you, Sheridan. This is so important. And you are absolutely right. And I think I should have clarified this from the get-go that it's not just about skin color. There are so many other categories of disparity. So thank you for bringing those up. Yeah, it is black. It's a woman. It's poor. is with a family member in jail. I mean, the intersectionality there is just huge.

And the result of systemic racism through centuries and generations and generations. So complex. I think something that we, the data you present is based on, back to the point I was making before about the cultural humility, seeking to understand. we need to listen to this community and really hear their perspective on the care they are receiving. So if LGBTQ individuals are perceiving

And the result of systemic racism through centuries and generations and generations. So complex. I think something that we, the data you present is based on, back to the point I was making before about the cultural humility, seeking to understand. we need to listen to this community and really hear their perspective on the care they are receiving. So if LGBTQ individuals are perceiving

poor care and discrimination, we need to say, yeah, I want to hear you because you're right. Your perception, we cannot say, oh, we treat everybody the same, which is, you know, we have the same standard, the same protocol, the same algorithms. No, we don't. Because even when we do the same things, there is a human essence and there is still the issue of unconscious biases.

poor care and discrimination, we need to say, yeah, I want to hear you because you're right. Your perception, we cannot say, oh, we treat everybody the same, which is, you know, we have the same standard, the same protocol, the same algorithms. No, we don't. Because even when we do the same things, there is a human essence and there is still the issue of unconscious biases.

And there is the issue of discrimination that happens and that is there and is proven and is present. What do we do about it? Number one is we need to listen to these communities. And to be able to listen to them, we need to give them a place at the table. We need to reach out and say, tell us, how are you being cared for? How are you perceiving your care is being?

And there is the issue of discrimination that happens and that is there and is proven and is present. What do we do about it? Number one is we need to listen to these communities. And to be able to listen to them, we need to give them a place at the table. We need to reach out and say, tell us, how are you being cared for? How are you perceiving your care is being?

Tell us what do you see the problems are? Tell us how we can help you. Again, a humble approach to, no, I do have developed these solutions to your problem, and this is what we're going to do. No, I go to you and you tell me, how do you think you could be helped better and doing something about what we hear. At the hospital, we have these equity rounds.

Tell us what do you see the problems are? Tell us how we can help you. Again, a humble approach to, no, I do have developed these solutions to your problem, and this is what we're going to do. No, I go to you and you tell me, how do you think you could be helped better and doing something about what we hear. At the hospital, we have these equity rounds.

We have them for a while where leadership, senior leadership, will go to rooms of patients who were in one of those categories, not just people of color, but a veteran or somebody who is, you know,

We have them for a while where leadership, senior leadership, will go to rooms of patients who were in one of those categories, not just people of color, but a veteran or somebody who is, you know,

different gender or different sexual orientation or whatever else and try to sit down with them and have a one-on-one conversation and take some notes and apologize on the spot for whatever perception they already in that hospitalization were perceiving as being treated unequally. So I think that's the start.

different gender or different sexual orientation or whatever else and try to sit down with them and have a one-on-one conversation and take some notes and apologize on the spot for whatever perception they already in that hospitalization were perceiving as being treated unequally. So I think that's the start.

And then obviously at the level of policy, we need to advocate for those policies that are all about equity. And I just, let me remind all of us that equity really is that everyone has the best chance to get the best outcomes possible or be as healthy as possible. Equity is not about we do give everybody the same treatment. Equity is about outcomes.

And then obviously at the level of policy, we need to advocate for those policies that are all about equity. And I just, let me remind all of us that equity really is that everyone has the best chance to get the best outcomes possible or be as healthy as possible. Equity is not about we do give everybody the same treatment. Equity is about outcomes.

It's how can we have everybody achieve the best health possible. Some people will need this to achieve that. Other people will need something very different to achieve that goal. And that's where we need to customize our care based on what we learn from these communities. So community engagement is very key.

It's how can we have everybody achieve the best health possible. Some people will need this to achieve that. Other people will need something very different to achieve that goal. And that's where we need to customize our care based on what we learn from these communities. So community engagement is very key.

And then having those individuals being in patient board meetings and having individuals from those communities who are disadvantaged or have been made disadvantaged be at the table. But not only be at the table, talkerism, but be at the table and have a say at the table, inclusivity.

And then having those individuals being in patient board meetings and having individuals from those communities who are disadvantaged or have been made disadvantaged be at the table. But not only be at the table, talkerism, but be at the table and have a say at the table, inclusivity.