Jazmin Evans, a kidney disease survivor, finally received a life-saving kidney transplant on the Fourth of July last year after waiting on dialysis for four long years. “Now I say the fireworks are for me,” Evans happily exclaimed. Diagnosed with kidney disease at the tender age of 17, Evans’ journey towards receiving a transplant was not an easy one.
However, a significant shift in the way physicians calculate kidney function for Black patients, like Evans, in 2021 played a pivotal role in expediting her transplant process. In a recent panel discussion at the STAT Summit, Evans, a passionate advocate for equity in healthcare and organ transplant systems, shared her inspiring story. She was joined by two experts who specialize in the elimination of race-based clinical algorithms.
During the panel, the experts shed light on the groundbreaking work that led to the removal of race from a commonly-used calculator that estimates patients’ kidney function. This shift marked a significant milestone in addressing racial disparities in healthcare, particularly in the field of organ transplantation. The discussion also highlighted the challenges faced in dismantling race-based algorithms in other areas of medicine.
The topic of race-based algorithms and their impact on healthcare outcomes has been a subject of intense scrutiny and debate. In a bid to address embedded biases in medical practices, STAT’s investigative series, Embedded Bias, coauthored by moderator Usha Lee McFarling and a reporter, delved deep into the complexities of race-based algorithms and their implications on patient care.
While the panel discussion offered valuable insights into the efforts to eliminate race-based algorithms in healthcare, it also underscored the importance of ongoing advocacy and policy changes to ensure equitable access to healthcare for all. Evans’ journey serves as a powerful reminder of the transformative impact that inclusive and equitable healthcare practices can have on patients’ lives.
As the healthcare industry continues to grapple with systemic inequities and biases, initiatives like the removal of race from clinical algorithms represent a crucial step towards creating a more just and equitable healthcare system. Evans’ story serves as a beacon of hope for patients facing similar challenges and underscores the importance of advocating for equity and inclusivity in healthcare.
