Unconscious Bias and Healthcare Part I

Unconscious bias continues to present significant barriers to equitable healthcare delivery. This 1-hour CME/CE course introduces healthcare professionals to the foundations of unconscious bias, its impact on clinical decision-making, and how it affects patient-provider interactions, health outcomes, and workplace dynamics.

As part of a two-part series, this course defines unconscious bias, explores its operation in both patient care and professional relationships, and explains its connection to stereotyping and discrimination. It also provides actionable strategies for recognizing and minimizing unconscious bias at both the individual and institutional levels. Real-world examples and research-backed insights support learners in applying culturally responsive care techniques.

This course fulfills the state-mandated Implicit Bias training requirements for physicians and nurses in the District of Columbia, Michigan, Massachusetts, Illinois, and Nevada.

Educational Objectives

• Define unconscious bias and its effects in healthcare environments.
• Explore how unconscious bias influences relationships with patients and colleagues.
• Identify the connection between unconscious bias, discrimination, and healthcare disparities.
• Examine the role of stereotypes in perpetuating unconscious bias.
• Apply evidence-based strategies to reduce the impact of unconscious bias in clinical settings.

Who Should Take This Course

This course is designed for:

• Physicians and Nurses practicing in Illinois, Michigan, Massachusetts, Nevada, and the District of Columbia.
• Healthcare professionals are required to complete implicit bias or cultural competency training.
• Providers seeking to improve patient equity, communication, and professional collaboration.
• Clinicians in leadership or education roles aiming to cultivate inclusive care environments.

Did You Know?

• A 2022 JAMA study found that implicit racial bias influences treatment decisions in pain management and emergency care.
• Healthcare professionals can hold unconscious biases even when committed to equity and ethical care. [Institute of Medicine, 2003]
• Structured implicit bias training is linked to improved patient-provider communication and satisfaction. [Health Affairs, 2021]
• Biases against gender, age, weight, and disability are also common and can affect diagnosis and treatment decisions.
• Many states now require implicit bias education for healthcare licensure and renewal.