Insult to Injury: Racial Disparities in Trauma Care in the Age of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Social Unrest

Purpose of Review The purpose of this review is to highlight the pervasiveness of these disparities, describe the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on trauma care, address recent social uprisings as indicators of structural racism and identify effective interventions. Recent Findings Patient of color are less likely to have adequate pain control, access to trauma centers, timely trauma consults, necessary monitoring and be discharged to a rehabilitation facility when compared to Whites. The COVID-19 pandemic led to hospital closures and stay-at-home orders that worsened disparities and increased violence. Social uprisings gained mainstream attention as vital indicators of structural racism. Effective interventions include hospital-based violence intervention programs and the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. Summary Racial disparities in trauma care affect outcomes from the time of injury to discharge and involve most injury patterns. Tackling the implicit and explicit biases that lead to these disparities and progressive policy development are critical for their erasure.