Improving Maternal Care for Patients of Color: Cedars-Sinai and Federal Agency Agreement
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles has recently entered into an agreement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights to address allegations of discrimination against pregnant Black, Latina, and other patients of color. This agreement comes after concerns were raised about the quality of care provided to Black patients compared to their white counterparts, particularly during obstetric hemorrhage situations.
Resolution Agreement and Monitoring
As part of the voluntary agreement, Cedars-Sinai has committed to taking several steps to improve outcomes for pregnant patients of color. These steps include enhancing a reporting tool to document incidents of suspected bias, ensuring access to doulas during labor, and providing information on warning systems for timely detection and treatment of critical illness in pregnant patients. The Office for Civil Rights will be monitoring this resolution agreement for three years to ensure compliance, with the option to reopen the investigation if necessary.
Community Partnerships and Advocacy
Prior to the review, Cedars-Sinai had already been working on efforts to address discrimination and bias in healthcare, such as providing staff education on unconscious bias and collaborating with community partners to reduce racial disparities. Melanie Fontes Rainer, director of the Office for Civil Rights, highlighted the significance of this agreement in advancing policies to prevent disproportionate deaths and discrimination against Black and brown women in hospitals.
Advocacy for Change
The federal review was prompted by the tragic death of Kira Dixon Johnson, a Black woman who died after experiencing complications following a caesarean section at Cedars-Sinai. Her husband, Charles Johnson, has been a vocal advocate for maternal health equity, founding the advocacy group 4Kira4Moms to address the disparities faced by Black women in healthcare. Despite the recent agreement, Johnson and other advocates have called for further actions from Cedars-Sinai, including acknowledging systemic failures, establishing oversight boards, and addressing clinician accountability in cases of discrimination or negligence.
In the face of these demands, Johnson has emphasized the importance of collaboration and accountability with the community to drive meaningful change in maternal healthcare. While the agreement marks a step forward, he believes there is still much work to be done to ensure equitable and quality care for all patients, regardless of race or ethnicity.
