The Waiting Game We Never Agreed To Play

Imagine knowing there is a safer way to drive a car, but the traffic laws won’t be updated to require it for another four years. You would want to know now. You wouldn’t wait for the law to change before starting to protect yourself and your family. In healthcare, specifically, Black Maternal Health, this delay is real. A recent study published in NIHR Open Research highlighted a critical disconnect in modern medicine. There is a median delay of 4 years between the publication of new safety research and its adoption into official health policy.

For many patients, a four-year wait is frustrating. For Black women navigating the Black maternal health crisis, it can be life-threatening.

At Rooted in Violet & Co., we believe that knowledge is protection. The “Gap” explains why community health blogs, podcasts, and self-advocacy tools aren’t just “extra” reading—they are essential survival gear. We share the latest information because we know that standard hospital protocols often lag years behind the science that could save us.

Listen to the Podcast Episode Here

The Stakes: Why 4 Years is Too Long

Why is this “Gap” so dangerous for us? Because the statistics regarding Black maternal health demand immediate action, not a four-year deliberation. According to 2023 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the maternal mortality rate for Black women is 50.3 deaths per 100,000 live births. Compare that to the rate for White women, which sits at 14.5. That means Black women are dying at a rate more than three times higher than their White counterparts.

But here is the most important number of all: over 80% of these pregnancy-related deaths are preventable.

When we see that 80% of these tragedies could be stopped, we have to ask: What are we waiting for? Are we waiting for the “Gap” to close? Are we waiting for every hospital in the country to update its handbooks?

We cannot wait. The system’s delay is why we must become the “Architects of Our Health”. By staying informed through platforms like Rooted in Violet and Co., you get access to the “now” information—the safety data, the warning signs, and the questions to ask—before it trickles down into policy years later.

Bridging the Gap with the ROOT Framework™

If the system is slow, we have to be agile. This is where the ROOT Framework becomes your bridge. It is designed to help you move from being a passive patient (waiting for the system) to an active partner (bringing the knowledge into the room).

Here is how you can use ROOT to close the gap in your own care:

R – Reveal What’s Going On

The system often relies on outdated “textbook” definitions of pain or symptoms that don’t always center on Black women’s bodies.

• The Action: Don’t wait for a doctor to tell you something feels “off.” You reveal the pattern first. Track your symptoms daily. If research shows that blood pressure spikes postpartum are a significant risk for Black women (which they are), you reveal that risk by monitoring your own numbers at home, rather than waiting for a 6-week checkup that might be too late.

O – Offer Your Observations

When you enter an exam room, you are bringing data that the provider might miss if they are following a slow-moving protocol.

• The Action: Use phrases like, “I’ve been reading about the rising rates of preeclampsia in Black women, and I’ve noticed my headaches are getting worse. Given the data, can we rule that out today?” You are offering observations that force the provider to look at you rather than just their standard checklist.

O – Outline What You Need

This is the most critical step in beating the “Gap.” If you know about a test or safety measure that isn’t standard policy yet but is supported by research, you have the right to ask for it.

• The Action: Outline your safety plan. “I know the protocol says to wait 4 hours, but based on my pain levels and history, I need to be evaluated sooner. What are our options for immediate testing?” You are outlining a need for safety that overrides the waiting period.

T – Take Note and Follow-Up

When policies change slowly, accountability is your safety net.

• The Action: Document everything. If a request for a test is denied because “it’s not policy,” take note. Ask the provider to note in your chart why the test was declined. This simple act of “taking note” often shifts the dynamic and encourages providers to be more cautious and thorough.

Community as the Cure

The “4-Year Gap” is a systemic failure, but it is one we are uniquely equipped to navigate if we stick together.

This is why we podcast. It is a reason we write Violet Sheets. This is why we share stories. When we share information within our community, we bypass the delay. We don’t have to wait for a medical journal to convince a hospital administrator to change a rule. We can tell each other the truth today.

Advocacy is a form of healing. When you read an article, download a toolkit, or share a health tip with a sister, you are shrinking that four-year gap down to zero. You are ensuring that the best, most current information is in the hands of the women who need it most.

Your Voice is the Medicine

The statistics are heavy, but your power is heavier. The system may move at a snail’s pace, but you don’t have to. You have the right to ask hard questions. You have the right to bring “internet research” into the appointment if that research is credible and relevant to your safety.

Physicians are partners, not gatekeepers. Until the policy catches up to the science, you are the bridge.

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Take Action Today

Don’t let the “Gap” dictate your health outcomes. Access our Maternal Health Violet Sheets today. It includes a vital signs tracker and a script of questions to ask your provider—tools designed to help you speak up even when the system is silent.

Members can access Violet Sheets here for free. Not a member? Click here and subscribe today!

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References

1. NIHR Open Research. (n.d.). The gap between research and policy. Retrieved January 11, 2026, from https://openresearch.nihr.ac.uk/articles/6-5
2. Rooted in Violet & Co. (n.d.). The ROOT Framework™ Program Description.
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2025). Maternal Mortality Rates in the United States, 2023. National Center for Health Statistics.
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2024). Pregnancy-Related Deaths: Data from Maternal Mortality Review Committees.
5. Rooted in Violet & Co. (n.d.). Integration Across Rooted in Violet Programs.