Original Reports on Focus Area: Health Disparities--Physician Bias: Does it Occur at Teaching Hospitals that Serve a Majority of African American Patients?

The purpose of this study was to examine physician bias when patients present with cardiovascular disease in a teaching hospital that treats a majority of African American patients. Physician bias was found to occur when cardiovascular patients did not receive an invasive procedure when needed. Results show that there is an apparent lack of disparity in referral and treatment patterns in these facilities among the physicians. It is recommended that further studies delve deeper into patient/physician interaction.