The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on African American and Latino communities, leading to the development of Black Doctor 247, an app that allows anyone in the United States to access a black doctor. Kimberly Wilson, founder of HUED, created the app after her own health scare exposed the disparities that many like her face. Despite a 4 percentage point increase in the proportion of black doctors nationwide in the past 120 years, according to a study conducted by UCLA, African Americans have been waging a long war for centuries. In the specialty, black women account for about 7% of active physicians, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges.
Digital services were largely created by black doctors and patients, women who are increasingly breaking into the technology space as entrepreneurs and using technology to address disparities in their communities. Rochaun Meadows-Fernandez is an award-winning writer, speaker and activist who works to amplify the voices of black women in mainstream dialogue, especially in conversations about health and parenting. Racial disparities within the health system due to systemic racism prevent thousands of Black and Latino patients from receiving the proper service they deserve. Only 3% of active physicians are black women, but their presence is crucial given the history of medical abuse and health disparities faced by African Americans.
Staff respond to patient questions, advise if immediate medical intervention is needed, and serves as additional support for black patients. Black and Latino Americans accounted for 58% of all patients hospitalized for COVID-19 and 53% of those who died from the disease. Early research has documented that specific populations, such as black men, report better health outcomes when they have access to black providers. Services such as Therapy for Black Girls, which focuses on de-stigmatizing mental health, and Health in Her Hue, which offers a database of culturally competent providers in dermatology, oncology and other specialties, are helping to bridge this gap.
The development of apps such as Black Doctor 247 and HUED is helping to make it easier for marginalized groups to connect with doctors in their communities. By providing access to medical professionals who understand their unique needs and experiences, these apps are helping to reduce health disparities and improve outcomes for African American and Latino patients.
