Advancing Health Equity: A Guide to Reducing Bias in Healthcare from Coursera

Bias in healthcare delivery leads to worse patient care and patient outcomes. Advancing Health Equity: A Guide for Reducing Bias in Healthcare provides you an interactive bias training that teaches skills applicable to addressing enhanced public health guidelines and approaching the work of health equity.

The racial and ethnic makeup of the United States is constantly shifting, and more specifically, becoming more diverse. Such changes require a more health equity-focused workforce and health equity-minded leadership. Bias training plays an essential role in leadership development, and it’s become imperative for all healthcare workers to recognize the foundational connection between biases and health care management and policy.

This course is designed to challenge your awareness, values, and actions on implicit and unconscious bias, and is intended to guide individuals hoping to contribute to this work in a healthcare context. The following core concepts form the basis of instruction and together offer an introductory perspective on this pressing topic: 1.) Community Orientation; 2.) Organizational Awareness; 3.) Professionalism; 4.) Accountability, Change Leadership, and Strategic Orientation.

An interactive 360-video experience allows you to engage in healthcare situations that center bias on multiple levels of our healthcare delivery systems. You will be prompted to consider multiple perspectives and roles, and use empathy to analyze bias and take action.

What's inside

Syllabus

Community Orientation

Community Orientation is the ability to align one’s own and the organization’s priorities with the needs and values of the community, including its cultural and ethnocentric values and to move health forward in line with population-based wellness needs and national health agenda.

Organizational Awareness

Organizational Awareness is ability to understand and learn the formal and informal decision-making structures and power relationships in an organization or industry (e.g., stakeholders, suppliers). This includes the ability to identify who the real decision makers are and the individuals who can influence them, and to predict how new events will affect individuals and groups within the organization.

Professionalism

Professionalism is the demonstration of ethics, sound professional practices, social accountability, and community stewardship; the desire to act in a way that is consistent with one’s values and what one says is important.

Special Topics: Accountability, Change Leadership, and Strategic Orientation

Accountability is our ability to hold people accountable to standards of performance; Change Leadership is to influence people towards the achievement of a set of goals; and Strategic Orientation is to consider implications of decisions in strategic ways that continually improve organizational long-term success.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Offers hands-on experience through interactive simulations and case studies

Teaches skills applicable to addressing enhanced public health guidelines

Provides interactive bias training that challenges awareness, values, and actions

Emphasizes the connection between biases and healthcare management and policy

Intended for individuals aiming to contribute to health equity in a healthcare context

Leverages 360-video experiences to engage learners in healthcare situations

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Advancing Health Equity: A Guide to Reducing Bias in Healthcare with these activities:

Review key concepts related to diversity, equity, and inclusion

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Strengthen your foundational understanding to build upon throughout the course.

Browse courses on Diversity and Inclusion

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Review previous coursework or materials on diversity, equity, and inclusion

Explore online resources for addressing bias in healthcare

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Develop an understanding of various approaches to reducing bias and promoting fair healthcare practices.

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Access the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website on health equity
Review the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) toolkit on reducing bias

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Career center

Learners who complete Advancing Health Equity: A Guide to Reducing Bias in Healthcare will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Community Health Worker

Community Health Workers act as a bridge between the healthcare system and the community. They provide education and support to individuals and families to help them improve their health. This course would be particularly helpful for Community Health Workers because it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to address health equity and reduce bias in healthcare settings.

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Health Educator

Health Educators work with individuals, families, and communities to promote health and prevent disease. They develop and implement educational programs and materials to help people make healthy choices. This course would be helpful for Health Educators because it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to address health equity and reduce bias in healthcare settings.

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Public Health Nurse

Public Health Nurses work with communities to improve health and prevent disease. They provide nursing care, education, and support to individuals and families. This course would be helpful for Public Health Nurses because it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to address health equity and reduce bias in healthcare settings.

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Social Worker

Social Workers help individuals, families, and communities to address social and emotional issues. They provide counseling, support, and advocacy to help people improve their lives. This course would be helpful for Social Workers because it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to address health equity and reduce bias in healthcare settings.

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Health Policy Analyst

Health Policy Analysts develop and analyze health policies and programs. They work with policymakers to create and implement policies that improve the health of the public. This course would be helpful for Health Policy Analysts because it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to address health equity and reduce bias in healthcare policy.

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Healthcare Administrator

Healthcare Administrators plan, organize, and manage healthcare organizations. They work to improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare services. This course would be helpful for Healthcare Administrators because it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to address health equity and reduce bias in healthcare organizations.

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Physician

Physicians diagnose and treat illnesses and injuries. They work with patients to develop and implement treatment plans. This course would be helpful for Physicians because it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to address health equity and reduce bias in healthcare settings.

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Nurse

Nurses provide nursing care to patients in a variety of settings. They work with patients to assess their needs, develop and implement care plans, and provide education and support. This course would be helpful for Nurses because it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to address health equity and reduce bias in healthcare settings.

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Health Information Manager

Health Information Managers oversee the management and use of health information. They work to improve the quality, accuracy, and accessibility of health information. This course would be helpful for Health Information Managers because it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to address health equity and reduce bias in the management and use of health information.

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Medical Assistant

Medical Assistants perform a variety of administrative and clinical tasks in healthcare settings. They work with patients, physicians, and other healthcare professionals to provide support and care. This course would be helpful for Medical Assistants because it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to address health equity and reduce bias in healthcare settings.

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Pharmacy Technician

Pharmacy Technicians assist pharmacists in dispensing medications and providing patient care. They work in pharmacies, hospitals, and other healthcare settings. This course may be helpful for Pharmacy Technicians because it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to address health equity and reduce bias in healthcare settings.

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Dental Hygienist

Dental Hygienists provide preventive dental care and education to patients. They work with dentists to clean teeth, examine patients for oral health problems, and provide instruction on oral hygiene. This course may be helpful for Dental Hygienists because it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to address health equity and reduce bias in healthcare settings.

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Medical Laboratory Technician

Medical Laboratory Technicians perform laboratory tests to diagnose and treat diseases. They work with physicians and other healthcare professionals to analyze samples and provide information about a patient's health. This course may be helpful for Medical Laboratory Technicians because it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to address health equity and reduce bias in healthcare settings.

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Veterinarian

Veterinarians diagnose and treat diseases in animals. They work with animal owners to provide care and advice on animal health. This course may be helpful for Veterinarians because it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to address health equity and reduce bias in healthcare settings.

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Chiropractor

Chiropractors diagnose and treat neuromusculoskeletal conditions. They use spinal adjustments and other techniques to relieve pain and improve function. This course may be helpful for Chiropractors because it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to address health equity and reduce bias in healthcare settings.

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