The increased risk of maternal morbidity and mortality among Black women in the United States is a patient safety and public health crisis. This literature review of 42 articles highlights the importance of cultural competence and disparities training for obstetric providers to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity among Black women. The authors also highlight the need for increased awareness regarding the increased risk of cardiovascular diseases among pregnant Black women.

Patients with dark skin tones are not well represented in health education, particularly dermatology, which can result in delayed diagnosis. In this scoping review, thirteen articles were identified assessing the confidence of students and healthcare providers in assessing patients with dark skin tones.  Overall, confidence was low but tailored training somewhat improved confidence. The author asserts more research and education is needed outside dermatology, for example, when assessments use terms such as pale, redness, or blue.

Researchers describe two types of decision making in medicine - fast (intuitive) and slow (analytical). While both types are subject to bias, this paper describes how cognitive biases in fast thinking, such as anchoring or framing, as well as racial or moral bias, can result in obstetrical misdiagnosis. Ten steps to mitigate these cognitive biases are laid out.

Structural racism continues to perpetuate health disparities. As part of their study on how black patients with serious illness experience racism from providers, researchers conducted interviews with 21 providers to understand ways they address anti-Black racism in their practice. Providers felt unprepared to address racism with their patients, wanted to provide tools for patients to bring up their experiences while also acknowledging the additional burden this would place on Black patients, and thought patient- and provider-facing programs could facilitate discussions. Additionally, despite extensive research on the negative impacts of structural racism on health, participants cited the need for more data.

Hospital-acquired venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains a significant source of preventable patient harm. This study of 4,252 high-risk general surgery patients found that only one-third received care in compliance with VTE prophylaxis guidelines. Patients receiving guideline-compliant care experienced shorter lengths of stay (LOS), fewer blood transfusions, and decreased odds of having a VTE, emphasizing the importance of initiating VTE chemoprophylaxis in high-risk general surgery patients.

Adverse events in palliative care can include inappropriate pain management, preventable hospital (re)admissions, falls, and pressure injuries. This paper outlines ways palliative care is not always received timely, the uniqueness of patient safety within palliative care, and how to raise awareness of both of these issues for healthcare providers, educators, and patients and families.