AfterShock Documentary & AWHONN conference
Jun 26, 2023I am at an Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) (AWHONN) conference and attended a session with the crew from the documentary Aftershock. They discussed the usual things about racism, dismantling systems of oppression, empowering communities, being honest about intentions to help.
But I was struck by a few things:
1. Out of the tragedies of maternal death a mobile health clinic was born. Also plans are underway to develop a birth center in NY. Further, there will be training for residents and healthcare staff about racism and bias in obstetrics.
2. The use of Art to open the mind to engaging with the complexity of solving maternal mortality, via media, spoken word, and paintings.
3. The creation of a men’s only group to discuss anything that comes to mind as a means of decompressing.
4. The honesty of Dr. Neel Shah who described an interaction with a patient that was black and came for late prenatal care. He described that he rolled his eyes and judged, and that he had to reflect on that subconscious bias. Ultimately, that patient was a pulmonologist at his hospital system. Made me think about all the biases that I carry…
5. They shared a quote that struck them which was that a black pregnant woman entering a hospital is in the equivalent situation as a black man being stopped by police in a car… That has to change especially as we know that 80% of all maternal mortality cases are preventable.
So on this Juneteenth in New Orleans, I have to again recommit to improving outcomes for all mothers.
#maternalmortality #nurses #nursepractitioner #EAP #fourthtrimesternp #birth #birthtrauma #fathers
#aftershock #bias #racism #healthymom #healthymomhealthybaby #blackmamas #blackmamasmatter
#pregnant #postpartum #obgyn #motherbaby #awhonn #awhonn23 #emergingleaders #podcast
#healthpodcast #nola #healthcare #health #change #training #complexity #hospital
