Course Description:

The role of implicit biases on healthcare outcomes has become a concern as some cite that implicit biases contribute to health disparities, professionals' attitudes toward and interactions with patients, quality of care, and treatment decisions. The purpose of this session is to provide health care professionals an overview of implicit bias. This includes an exploration of definitions of implicit and explicit bias. The nature and dynamics of implicit biases and how they can affect health outcomes will be discussed. Finally, because implicit biases are unconscious, strategies will be reviewed to assist in raising professionals' awareness of and interventions to reduce them.