As part of its ongoing efforts to create health equity, Louisiana Healthcare Connections is partnering with Louisiana Primary Care Association to offer the March of Dimes Awareness to Action: Dismantling Bias in Maternal and Infant Healthcare™ training to healthcare providers on Dec 8.
According to the March of Dimes, the U.S. is among the most dangerous developed nations in the world for childbirth, and there’s a higher chance of maternal or infant death based on race and ethnicity. Louisiana has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the country, with black women dying during pregnancy at a rate four times higher than white women.
“This training seeks to address the racial disparities and social determinants of health that contribute to the maternal and infant health crisis in our state,” notes Stewart Gordon, MD, chief medical officer for Louisiana Healthcare Connections. “We are hopeful this training will begin to break through barriers and provide strategies for care, with healthy moms and babies as the goal.”
Dismantling Bias in Maternal and Infant Healthcare™ is an implicit bias training course that provides healthcare professionals with important insights to recognize and remedy implicit bias in maternity care settings.
"Community Health Centers are on the front lines of caring for pregnant women in our communities, and they see how racial bias and health disparities affect families,” says Gerrelda Davis, executive director of the Louisiana Primary Care Association.
“It’s unacceptable that black women are dying at higher rates than all other races, and almost two-thirds of maternal deaths are preventable,” said Renee Antoine, director of maternal infant health for March of Dimes. Awareness to Action: Dismantling Bias in Maternal and Infant Healthcare™ seeks to recognize and remedy implicit bias in maternity care and teaches healthcare professionals how to build a culture of equity within an organization.”
The live training will be held on Dec. 8 via Zoom. There are a limited number of seats, so those interested in attending should sign up as soon as possible. To register, visit https://lahealth.cc/bias.