“Patient states she has been ‘in pain for 24 hours,’ but does not appear to be in pain now.”

“Patient is non-compliant.”

Words can cause harm. The language a health care provider uses to describe a patient or their health issue in a medical record can carry tremendous weight. Although health care providers are trained to use neutral non-biased language in medical records, studies of provider notes show that bias often exists. Stigmatizing language within medical notes can make patients, families, and their communities feel devalued and can cause individuals to be less likely to trust their medical providers and engage in, or come back for, care.

This blog post examines how eliminating biased language in patient charts is essential for advancing health equity. It outlines steps that health care providers can take to avoid negative and judgmental language and use words that promote inclusivity and respect in their patient notes.