Black patients experienced delays in COVID-19 treatment because a common medical device that measures blood oxygen levels tended to give inaccurate readings for darker-skinned individuals, according to a new study by Sutter Health.
The inaccurate measurements contributed to nearly five-hour delays in COVID-19 treatment, which was critical time for the potentially fatal virus, according to the study.
“The findings underscore the fact that bias is not only human, it can be ingrained in the devices and tools clinicians rely on, too,” said Dr. Stephanie Brown of Sutter Health’s Institute for Advancing Health Equity. “To build a more equitable healthcare system we must continue to not only uncover where bias exists in medicine, but also work to understand its impact on clinical outcomes and how it can be corrected.”
