Color Coded Care

Abstract

The work of physicians and healthcare workers in taking care of our family and loved ones, saving lives, are a sacred task. Still, we recognize through data, that our healthcare systems are contrarily filled with inequities and medical bias that results in harm. Often, these inequities are felt among minoritized and marginalized groups, or in the case of “Color Coded Care,” my mother, a retired nurse, ordained minister, wife, grandmother, and black woman. This original prose poetry piece highlights events that occurred during her 41 days of hospitalization in a neuro-intensive care unit in Florida. It is important to note that the content of this prose may trigger feelings of discomfort, particularly among providers who have taken the great Oath to give their patients the best care possible. However, it may also be a valuable and cathartic step toward repairing medical mistrust by bringing voice to experiences of healthcare related trauma. “Color Coded Care” is not an indictment, rather, it is a cry for the work that is being done to remove inequity and harmful medical bias from our healthcare systems. It is the hope for a more equitable tomorrow. “To view the original version of this poem, see the supplemental material section of this article online.”