The Unique Impacts of Implicit Bias on Emergency Medicine

Implicit bias refers to unconscious attitudes and associations an individual holds about others, which can impact behavior and decisions. In the emergency department (ED)-a setting characterized by unpredictable patient volumes, overcrowding, high acuity, and significant stress-physicians often face increased cognitive demands, which may heighten susceptibility to implicit bias. This can adversely impact emergency medicine (EM) patient care and outcomes, as well as the well-being of frontline healthcare providers. In this paper, we outline how specific biases can affect both patient care and physician practice. Recognizing that the ED presents unique challenges, we propose targeted solutions to address bias at the individual, institutional, and specialty levels with the ultimate aim of improving the patient care experience and promoting equity in the EM workforce.