Recent studies show that racial and ethnic minorities receive lower quality healthcare than their white counterparts—even when factors such as insurance, income, and health conditions are similar in nature.
It goes without saying that this issue is layered, and both the problem and solution are far too complex to look to just one source for answers. However, one fact does remain: while 13% of Americans are Black, Only 5% of physicians in the U.S. are Black, according to the U.S. Census and the Association of American Medical Colleges.
This means that racial bias is undoubtedly creating obstacles for black women in the medical community due to the lack of healthcare providers who are able to relate to, understand, and even identify with their issues and experiences.
Howard University alum, Ashlee Wisdom, is attempting to bridge this gap between black women and healthcare providers with her app and digital platform, Health In Her HUE.
Health In Her Hue offers black women—as well as other women of color—resources to help better connect them with culturally competent healthcare providers and communities that’ll provide the assistance and support they need.
“There’s a need for women of color specifically to have digital solutions that make it easier for us to find trusted healthcare providers,” Ashlee Wisdom said. “So that’s what we’re building with Health in Her HUE. We’re building out a database and a search and booking feature where Black women and WoC can find culturally appropriate health care providers.”
Wisdom goes on to say that it’s not only observation, but thorough research and personal experience that made it painfully clear that black women were in dire need of safe spaces when it came to medicine and healthcare:
“I personally was experiencing microaggressions and working in a toxic environment as a Black woman,” she said. “It happened to be a healthcare setting and it impacted my health. At the same time that that was happening, I was learning about the various social factors that impact health outcomes and saw the disparities for black women and thought to myself, how can I make this information more accessible to your everyday Black woman?”
Making Safe, Effective, and Reliable Healthcare Digitally Accessible For Black Women
While Wisdom and HIHH co-founder Eddwina Bright plan to expand the platform into a full blown telehealth service in the future, Health In Her Hue currently serves as a medical database app that helps black women find the right healthcare service provider for them.
From doulas and midwives, to therapists and nutritionists, every healthcare provider is screened and approved to ensure everyone is receiving competent medical care and opinions, digitally and in real life.
HIHH also serves a content hub that provides women access to tons of relevant health content to keep them informed and aware on their journey to optimal health and wellness.
Luckily for us, the plans for expanding Health In Her Hue are not just dreams, but soon to be reality. In August 2021, the HIHH team announced that they successfully raised $1 Million in pre-seed funding. This means that the platform can, and will be, expand to “customized care support via tailored content, consultations, care recommendations, and other care benefits.”
Health In Her Hue is a huge step in the right direction for the mental, physical, and emotional health of black women everywhere. And thanks to Ashlee Wisdom and team, it’s healthcare made safe and simple—right at your fingertips.
