Racial and ethnic harm in patient care is a patient safety issue.
Racism is a pervasive threat to patient safety. This article discusses the relationship between racial and ethnic harm (e.g., racism, health disparities) and patient safety through the lenses of social learning theory, critical race theory, and medical racism. The authors outline several strategies to reduce harm and improve patient safety among racially or ethnically marginalized patients, such as antiracism education and addressing harm promptly when it occurs.