scholarly journals Advancing Health Equity During the COVID-19 Pandemic through Digital Medical Interpretation Platforms

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nazia Sharfuddin ◽  
Pamela Mathura ◽  
Emily Ling ◽  
Ellen Bruseker ◽  
Areej Rajeh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Equity ◽  
Clinical Assessment ◽  
Limited English Proficiency ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Accurate Information ◽  
Clinical Workflow ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Medical Interpretation ◽  
Centered Care ◽  
Improving Accuracy

Abstract Background: Medical Interpretation Services (MIS) is the gold-standard that should be used during clinical assessments with patients who have limited English proficiency (LEP) or have hearing loss. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the urgent need for clear, concise medical communication between patients and clinicians to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and ensure public safety. Cost of MIS is covered by the provincial health authority in Alberta; however, it is not consistently utilized across the province.Aim: To implement digital MIS in the Emergency Department (ED) of one urban teaching hospital, improving accuracy of clinical assessment and to provide patient-centered communication. Methods: Applying quality improvement methodology, an intervention comprised of digital MIS technology and education was trialed for 6 months. To assess intervention effect, the number of MIS minutes and calls were measured monthly and a questionnaire was developed and administered to determine ED healthcare providers’ awareness, technology accessibility and perception of MIS integration into the clinical workflow. Results: Digital MIS was utilized consistently in the ED from the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020) and over the subsequent six months. The cost avoidance due to digital MIS usage was estimated to be $19,612.16. ED healthcare providers indicated that digital MIS helped smooth communication with patients and reduced the time it took to gather and provide accurate information. Conclusion: Providing digital MIS access, education and training is a means to advance health equity, by improving accuracy of clinical assessment and patient-centered care in the ED.

Healthcare Providers’ Attitudes, Knowledge, and Practice Behaviors for Educating Patients About Advance Directives: A National Survey

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 387-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frances R. Nedjat-Haiem ◽  
Tamara J. Cadet ◽  
Anup Amatya ◽  
Shiraz I. Mishra
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Medical Decision ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Practice Behaviors ◽  
Centered Care ◽  
Seriously Ill Patients

Background: Advance care planning for end-of-life care emerged in the mid-1970’s to address the need for tools, such as the advance directive (AD) legal document, to guide medical decision-making among seriously ill patients, their families, and healthcare providers. Objective: Study aims examine providers’ perspectives on AD education that involve examining (1) a range of attitudes about educating patients, (2) whether prior knowledge was associated with practice behaviors in educating patients, and (3) specific factors among healthcare providers such as characteristics of work setting, knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors that may influence AD education and documentation. Design: To examine providers’ views, we conducted a cross-sectional, online survey questionnaire of healthcare providers using social media outreach methods for recruitment. Methods: This study used a cross-sectional survey design to examine the proposed aims. Healthcare providers, recruited through a broad approach using snowball methods, were invited to participate in an online survey. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine providers’ views toward AD education. Results: Of 520 participants, findings indicate that most healthcare providers said that they were knowledgeable about AD education. They also viewed providing education as beneficial to their practice. These findings suggest that having a positive attitude toward AD education and experiencing less organizational barriers indicate a higher likelihood that providers will educate patients regarding ADs. Conclusion: Various disciplines are represented in this study, which indicates that attitudes and knowledge influence AD discussions. The importance of AD discussions initiated by healthcare providers is critical to providing optimal patient-centered care.

Caring for Patients with Service Dogs: Information for Healthcare Providers

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Krawczyk
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Support ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Service Dogs ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Service Dog ◽  
Healthcare Settings ◽  
Centered Care

People with disabilities use various assistance devices to improve their capacity to lead independent and fulfilling lives. Service dogs can be crucial lifesaving companions for their owners. As the use of service dogs increases, nurses are more likely to encounter them in healthcare settings. Service dogs are often confused with therapy or emotional support dogs. While some of their roles overlap, service dogs have distinct protection under the American Disabilities Act (ADA). Knowing the laws and proper procedures regarding service dogs strengthens the abilities of healthcare providers to deliver holistic, patient-centered care. This article provides background information about use of dogs, and discusses benefits to patients and access challenges for providers. The author reviews ADA laws applicable to service dog use and potential challenges and risks in acute care settings. The role of the healthcare professional is illustrated with an exemplar, along with recommendations for future research and nursing implications related to care of patients with service dogs.

Thoughts About Meanings of Compliance, Adherence, and Concordance

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 358-360
Author(s):  
Jacqueline Fawcett
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Model ◽  
Patient Autonomy ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Patient Centered Care ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Or Groups ◽  
Health Related Behaviors ◽  
Centered Care ◽  
Health Related

The purpose of this essay is to explore the meanings of the widely used terms compliance and adherence and the less widely used term concordance and to raise questions about the appropriateness of these terms when used to describe individuals’ or groups’ health-related behaviors. Discussion focuses on how recognition of how the meanings of these terms has uncovered the failure to honor nursing’s emphasis on person/patient-centered care due to power imbalances between healthcare providers and patents and the subsequent lack of patient autonomy. Consideration of these problems with existing terms could facilitate identification of a potentially more appropriate term based on the language of a nursing conceptual model and/or theory.

scholarly journals Partnerships to Improve Shared Decision Making for Patients with Hypertension: Health Equity Implications

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 97-102
Author(s):  
Aisha T. Langford ◽  
Stephen K. Williams ◽  
Melanie Applegate ◽  
Olugbenga Ogedegbe ◽  
Ronald S. Braithwaite
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Shared Decision Making ◽  
Health Equity ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Lifestyle Changes ◽  
Shared Decision ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Broad Array ◽  
Centered Care

Shared decision making (SDM) has increas­ingly become appreciated as a method to enhance patient involvement in health care decisions, patient-provider communication, and patient-centered care. Compared with cancer, the literature on SDM for hyperten­sion is more limited. This is notable because hypertension is the leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease and both conditions disproportionately affect certain subgroups of patients. However, SDM holds prom­ise for improving health equity by better engaging patients in their health care. For example, many reasonable options exist for treating uncomplicated stage-1 hyperten­sion. These options include medication and/ or lifestyle changes such as healthy eating, physical activity, and weight management. Deciding on “the best” plan of action for hypertension management can be challeng­ing because patients have different goals and preferences for treatment. As hyper­tension management may be considered a preference-sensitive decision, adherence to treatment plans may be greater if those plans are concordant with patient prefer­ences. SDM can be implemented in a broad array of care contexts, from patient-provider dyads to interprofessional collaborations. In this article, we argue that SDM has the potential to advance health equity and improve clinical care. We also propose a process to evaluate whether SDM has occurred and suggest future directions for research.Ethn Dis. 2019;29(Suppl 1):97- 102; doi:10.18865/ed.29.S1.97.

Assessing patient values first: Creating a platform for advance care planning (ACP) in the adult oncology population.

2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (31_suppl) ◽  
pp. 99-99
Author(s):  
Sabrina Q. Mikan ◽  
Cynthia Taniguchi ◽  
J. Russell Hoverman ◽  
Susan Ash-Lee ◽  
Deb Harrison ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Metastatic Cancer ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Major Step ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Centered Care ◽  
Patient Values ◽  
Eol Care

99 Background: Patients, families and healthcare providers can be apprehensive about having end-of-life (EOL) conversations. However, asking patients about personal values regarding their healthcare goals may create a platform for more in depth conversations. A quantitative instrument to assess patient values and ACP readiness was developed and validated to complement a process for identifying patients appropriate for ACP. Methods: Recruitment was conducted at seven cancer center sites in The US Oncology Network over a 90-day pilot study period. Of 871 identified patients, 301 Texas Oncology patients engaged in ACP. A cross-sectional descriptive design was used in 301 metastatic cancer patients. Sixty-three participants completed the questionnaire. The 13-item instrument was created after an extensive literature review regarding EOL choices and interventions using a 5-point Likert scale. Descriptive statistics were examined, in addition to analysis of the relationships between items using Pearson’s r correlations. Results: Participants were primarily female (59%) and Caucasian (95%); with a mean age of 66 years. Sixty-eight percent reported it "Very Important" to be told they were dying. There was a significant association between willingness to discuss feelings about dying and being told by their physician when dying, (r= 0.373, p<0.01). Sixty-two percent reported it "Very Important" to be able to choose their EOL care location. EOL care location and level of burden for caregivers were significantly associated (r= 0.315, p<0.05). Also, 76% reported being able to select the person who makes EOL decisions for them as "Very Important." Conclusions: Recent studies have shown the importance of assessment of patient healthcare values in the metastatic oncology population. The values and readiness instrument allows healthcare providers to understand the patient’s wishes early in the course of care. ACP can be guided through review of the validated instrument in the adult metastatic population. This provides appropriate weight to both sides of the care equation and is a major step toward creating patient-centered care. Further development of the instrument is needed in this population.

Health 2.0 and Medicine 2.0

2011 ◽  
pp. 197-211
Author(s):  
Anastasius Moumtzoglou
Keyword(s):  
Semantic Web ◽  
Web 2.0 ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Health 2.0 ◽  
Centered Care ◽  
Medicine 2.0 ◽  
Personalized Health ◽  
Personalized Health Care ◽  
Virtual Interactions

The collaborative nature of Medicine 2.0/Health 2.0 and its emphasis on personalized health care clearly outlines it with respect to e-health and Web 2.0. The Semantic Web uses the notion that the meaning of a concept relates to other concepts. Therefore, it amplifies many of the existing challenges, but also offers new opportunities for the quality problems of Web 2.0 and enhances the potential to translate information into knowledge. Perhaps the most exciting expectation is that people will use the semantic web to search for healthcare providers of the highest quality, using services that take into account their own preferences and employ decentralized data from different sources. On the other hand, the Semantic Web magnifies privacy and may raise concerns about disintermediation between patients and health professionals and over reliance on virtual interactions. Therefore, the perspective of the chapter is to consider the key debates that occur in the literature with respect to the terms Medicine 2.0 and Health 2.0 acknowledging that any authentic solution to health problems has to originate from patient-centered care.

Palliative and Serious Illness Patient Management for Physician Assistants

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Medical Specialty ◽  
Physician Assistants ◽  
Medical Providers ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Serious Illness ◽  
Comprehensive Management ◽  
Centered Care

There are still medical providers who believe palliative care medicine is limited to care of the dying. It is actually devoted to relief of suffering at every stage of life. Comprehensive management of patients with serious illness, including the relief of their symptoms, impacts their lives and those of their families, significant others, and caregivers, including healthcare providers. The knowledge and skills inherent in this medical specialty enables them all to grow and fosters resilience in their lives. Patient centered care is the best model that incorporates team practice with physicians and other healthcare professionals, and this is a cornerstone of palliative care medicine. Furthermore, PAs are compassionate listeners who provide comprehensive diagnosis and treatment of vulnerable patient populations across the life span and in all healthcare settings. Among medical providers involved in palliative care medicine, PAs are the only group whose accreditation requirements incorporate this knowledge and training. This text represents a new resource for PAs, clinicians, researchers, and educators of the profession to further facilitate its expansion into palliative and serious illness care. PAs are thereby poised to reduce the workforce shortage of healthcare professionals in palliative care medicine.

Lifting the voices of Spanish-speaking Kansans: a community-engaged approach to health equity

Multilingua ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Showstack ◽  
Silvia Duque ◽  
Nikki Keene Woods ◽  
Ana López ◽  
Amy Chesser
Keyword(s):  
Health Equity ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Spanish Speakers ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Community Needs ◽  
Spanish Speaking ◽  
Personal Experiences ◽  
Engagement Process

Abstract An important component of social justice research is centering the voices of those individuals whose lives the research is intended to improve, not as subjects from whom researchers collect data but as active participants in a process of understanding and addressing issues of concern to the community. This ideal of community engagement slows the pace of dissemination of traditional social science or sociolinguistic scholarship but also allows scholars and community members to collaborate to identify and implement meaningful solutions to community problems. We describe a process of engagement of Spanish-speaking patients, interpreters, and healthcare providers in developing a health equity agenda for Spanish speakers in Kansas, grounded in a community-based participatory approach called Patient-Centered Outcomes Research. Stakeholders were engaged through sharing and amplifying their testimonios, stories that tied personal experiences of encountering language barriers in healthcare with calls to action, and they contributed to decisions about what to do with the stories and how to respond to the problems they identified. The result of our engagement process is the formation of a community-based team that has amplified the voices of Spanish-speaking patients and families to reach a range of audiences and responded to a number of evolving community needs. We provide recommendations for language researchers interested in pursuing community-engaged work and explore the possibilities for aligning such work with the expectations of academic institutions.

Patient-centered communication: an extension of the HCAHPS survey

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahidul Islam ◽  
Nazlida Muhamad
Keyword(s):  
Service Quality ◽  
Gap Analysis ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Measurement Model ◽  
Patient Centered Care ◽  
Emerging Economy ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Affective Communication ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Centered Care

PurposeThe Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) has been recognized as a “gold standard” set of “practical standardized measures” for assessing hospital service quality. Beginning with the HCAHPS, the purpose of this paper is to extend efforts to assess patient-centered communication (PCC) and the quality of healthcare and presents a scale for measuring patient perceptions and expectations of service quality in an emerging economy context.Design/methodology/approachA self-administered survey of patients in private hospitals (N = 171) was conducted to test the proposed framework. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to establish the measurement model. Multiple regression analysis was used to explain the scale's predictive ability. ANOVA was used to analyze service quality gaps and rank patients' priorities.FindingsFive components of PCC are identified. Among these, nurse affective communication has a significant positive effect on patient satisfaction. The gap analysis shows that patients have high expectations for doctors' affective communication, while they perceive a low level of service performance in the realm of nurse affective communication. The study highlights a new means of measuring “reliability” in healthcare. Important findings on patients' priorities are evaluated and discussed.Practical implicationsHealthcare organizations and practitioners can improve patient-centered care by stressing the dimensions of PCC, including clinicians' affective and instrumental communication.Originality/valueThe study expands the understanding of HCAHPS instruments in an emerging economy context and opens avenues for more widespread use of the measures. The research contributes to the literature on patient-centered care and healthcare service quality by proposing a scale for managing specific practices and interactions in healthcare.

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