In a few short months, we’ll mark the 5 year anniversary of the start of COVID-19 pandemic. I remember it well, as Opticyte and our commitment to advance health equity was underway with our work to develop cellular oximetry technology to work effectively for all skin tones.
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, I was deeply troubled to see Black individuals dying at twice the rate of White individuals. A significant factor was the inaccuracy of pulse oximetry measurements in people with darker skin tones, leading to misdiagnosis and delayed treatments. This disparity exposed a critical flaw in our healthcare system, where outdated technology failed to serve all patients equally.
Those of us driving change at Opticyte are committed to changing this narrative. At our company, we are developing advanced pulse oximetry technology that will be accurate regardless of skin tone. By addressing the inaccuracies and eliminating the inherent racial bias in today’s pulse oximeters, I aim to ensure that all patients receive timely and appropriate care, ultimately improving health outcomes and advancing health equity.
I believe the future can be different and healthier for everyone. I am dedicated to leading this change and invite you to join me in building a healthcare system that truly serves all communities with fairness and precision.
You can read more obstacles and opportunities ahead in a new Johns Hopkins article.