An oxygen monitor considered crucial to determining treatment for COVID-19 patients has failed to work properly for people of colour, causing delays in urgently needed care, a new study found. The results found that of 7,126 patients, Black patients were 29 per cent less likely than white patients to have their need for treatment recognized by the oxygen reader. For people the study classified as non-Black Hispanic patients, they were 23 per cent less likely than white patients to have their treatment needs identified. Black patients also had a median delay in treatment of one hour. Black communities need to be involved in the design and testing of health technology to ensure it works properly and meets their needs, said Paul Bailey, executive director of the Black Health Alliance, a Toronto-based charity.

Source: thestar June 05, 2022 22:26 UTC