You should use this notebook as an educational tool before injury or illness to avoid common, costly, sometimes disastrous medical mistakes. This notebook focuses on three significant areas:

1. Errors in medical records can lead to improper treatment.


2. Implicit bias based on race and gender can determine the wrong course of treatment or lack thereof.


3. Patient education focuses on the pitfalls of self-advocacy.

In the 21st century, women, especially African Americans, regardless of education and socioeconomic status, confront inferior quality medical treatment caused by implicit bias and medical racism.

Everyone, men and women, face problems navigating the medical system, but it falls hardest on people of color.

Mistakes are common in health records and may lead to serious issues such as wrong treatment or medication. Mistakes may happen due to wrong chart entries, lack of coding skills, or simple misunderstandings. Bias, however, may be another reason. And clues to this reality may be reflected in the medical records.