The CDC definition of health disparities acknowledges the role of “-isms” as significant contributing factors of inequities. Some examples of pervasive toxic “-isms” include: racism, sexism, ageism, ableism, heterosexism (i.e., homophobia), classism, sizeism, and antisemitism. “-isms” are the behavioral manifestation of bias, conscious or unconscious, that reinforce oppression and inequities in our culture.
Read MoreI picked up the next chart during my fast track shift. I read the triage note: Back pain, ESI 4. Possibly a herniated disc or some other kind of musculoskeletal back pain…
Read MoreA thin 27-year-old male with no known past medical history presented to the ED for evaluation of 3 days of fever and several weeks of fatigue. Associated symptoms included nausea, diarrhea, and a 15 pound weight loss. On further questioning, the patient reported food and housing insecurity. He stated he was living at a bathhouse and had multiple male sexual partners in the past month. He smokes cigarettes and endorses occasional alcohol and drug use. He stated that he has no source of income or cell phone, and reported being estranged from many family and friends…
Read MoreA 60-year-old man with a history of hypertension and smoking presents to the medical center with chest pain. Over the weekend, he developed chest pain while cleaning out his gutters that resolved with rest. This morning, he was working at his computer when he developed chest pain radiating to his left arm. It has since resolved, but he presents to the clinic for evaluation. An EKG obtained on arrival is unremarkable, but he soon develops chest pain again…
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