In response to the continual COVID crisis that has devastated Black and Brown families, a growing coalition of Black Doctors, led by Dr. Bill Releford (a specialist in avoidance of amputations), are responding to the call by announcing the launch of the Black Doctor 247 app so that any person can access a Black Doctor across the United States 24/7.
The Black Doctor 247 app connects several campaigns central to Black Wellness 247: The Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program, Black Limbs Matter and The Black Beauty Salon Health Initiative. The goal of these elements is to reduce health disparities in the Black community. The app adds to the existing efforts of the Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program, which has already screened over 30,000 African American men throughout the nation.
“As someone who specializes in the health of individuals in high-risk populations, I’ve seen firsthand the disparities that exist for the Black community,” said Dr. Releford. “Health outcomes for Black patients improve greatly when they’re seen by Black doctors, so we are partnering with doctors and barbershops across the nation to create a network of physicians for the Black community that promotes communication and trust.”
The Black Doctor 247 app allows those with a smartphone to use an intuitive dashboard with artificial intelligence to check their vital signs, including heart rate, oxygen saturation, respiration rate, blood pressure, and even mental stress symptoms. In addition, Black Doctor 247 will offer real-time, remote video-based Vital Signs Monitoring to facilitate early detection of COVID-19 in underserved communities across the country.
“Black and brown communities are extraordinarily impacted by health disparities and the coronavirus pandemic has exposed even more inequity in the medical industry,” said State Senator Steven Bradford (D-
Gardena), Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus. “Innovative ideas and efforts like the Black Doctor 247 app are key to meeting people where they are, to promote health and illicit trust in impacted communities.”
Despite the expansion of healthcare in recent years, research shows that massive healthcare disparities exist between the Black community and other communities. A study conducted by National Bureau of Economic Research showed that Black patients have better health outcomes when they are treated by a Black doctor. The study also concluded that black men assessed by Black doctors agreed to more preventive, resulting in the need of less invasive services.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has further exposed astonishing healthcare disparities we face in the Black community,” said Rick Callender, President of the California-Hawaii State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). “Creative resources, such as the Black Doctor 247 app, are pivotal in addressing the health needs of African Americans.”
For information on the Black Wellness 247 visit: www.blackwellness247.com
For more information about The Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program’s wellness app, visit: www.BlackBarbershop.org.
