The Time Is Now: Racism and the Responsibility of Emergency Medicine to Be Antiracist

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Nicole Franks, Emory University; Katrina Gipson, Emory University; Sheri-Ann Kaltiso, Emory University; Anwar Osborne, Emory University; Sheryl Heron, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2021-11-01
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2021 by the American College of Emergency Physicians.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.annemergmed.2021.05.003
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: ANNALS OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE
• Volume: 75
• Issue: 8
• Start Page: 577
• End Page: 586
• Grant/Funding Information: By Annals policy, all authors are required to disclose any and all commercial, financial, and other relationships in any way related to the subject of this article as per ICMJE conflict of interest guidelines (see www.icmje.org). The authors have stated that no such relationships exist.
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Public Health; Biology, Virology; Sociology, Ethnic and Racial Studies

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has shed light on the ongoing pandemic of racial injustice. In the context of these twin pandemics, emergency medicine organizations are declaring that “Racism is a Public Health Crisis.” Accordingly, we are challenging emergency clinicians to respond to this emergency and commit to being antiracist. This courageous journey begins with naming racism and continues with actions addressing the intersection of racism and social determinants of health that result in health inequities. Therefore, we present a social-ecological framework that structures the intentional actions that emergency medicine must implement at the individual, organizational, community, and policy levels to actively respond to this emergency and be antiracist.