youtu.be/gpeiv_fqPyg?...
As we can see from this amazing app, technology is moving fast. There are so many new and exciting innovations happening all the time.
However, one thing that seems to have been stuck in time is the accuracy of the pulse oximeter. For decades, it has been known that oxygen levels in people with darker skin can be overestimated when using a pulse oximeter. Researchers have found that, compared with white patients, Black, Hispanic and Asian patients treated in intensive care units can have greater discrepancies between the oxygen saturation detected by pulse oximeters and the levels detected through blood samples. This can also mean that these patients receive less supplemental oxygen than white patients.
This is something that was never highlighted to us during nursing school or in practice, and it is an issue I have only become aware of quite recently. It makes me wonder: how can we tackle this kind of racial inequality in healthcare?
I would love to see an innovative solution that allows us to accurately and efficiently measure oxygen levels across all skin tones. Alongside better technology, I would also like to see clear protocols within nursing and medical practice that acknowledge this inaccuracy and, importantly, tell healthcare professionals how to act on it. Awareness is important, but there also needs to be practical guidance to make sure every patient receives accurate assessment and appropriate treatment.
