Strategies Frontline Managers Need to Mitigate Racial Bias and Advance Equity in Healthcare

Racial disparities in healthcare continue to profoundly impact the experiences and outcomes of black patients, reflecting long-standing systemic inequities and biased clinical and organizational practices. This qualitative exploratory study examined how healthcare managers mitigate racially biased treatment within healthcare organizations by analyzing semi-structured interviews with ten healthcare leaders representing diverse care settings. The findings revealed seven interconnected strategies used by managers to promote equitable care: continuous bias awareness and education, inclusive leadership modeling, policy enforcement, patient advocacy, open communication, workforce diversity development, and structural integration of equity principles. These strategies reflect the influential role managers play in shaping organizational culture and sustaining systemic reform. The study highlights the importance of transformational leadership in creating equitable healthcare environments and underscores the need for continued research integrating policy, structural accountability, and community voice.