Discussion – Collaboration to Improve Outcomes

Discussion – Collaboration to Improve Outcomes

Addressing Language Barriers in a Multicultural Healthcare Setting

Communication is an essential component in a healthcare setting that determines patient care delivery and outcomes. A specific case illustrated how the integrated model can effectively enhance patient care by eradicating communication barriers. This situation prevailed in an ethnically diverse general hospital where language issues presented informative challenges. Applying the concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion to the project, the team successfully improved patient care through a viable solution.

Problem

A large metropolitan hospital’s emergency department reported a problem with language barriers that affected patients’ understanding of their health status and the details of treatment plans and medications. As mentioned earlier, language barriers were evident among the patients, especially those of Hispanic, Asian, and Middle Eastern origin. It evidenced an inability to timely receive an intervention, dissatisfaction with doctors, and overall poor health status. Actual treatment concerns were reduced satisfaction with treatment, longer waiting times for care, adverse post-discharge self-administration, and medication mistakes. Given the nature of the problem, to actively resolve the issue of language barriers, a systematic approach would require the application of clinicians.

The Collaborative Solution

Multidisciplinary Team Formation

In an attempt to solve this problem, a work group was created that consisted of several members, including nurses, physicians, administrative staff, and professional medical interpreters. First, the team established which languages were often used by the patients and where and when such a problem was most likely to arise (Al Shamsi et al., 2020).

Hiring Professional Interpreters

Realizing the lack of language differentiation, professional interpreters for Spanish, Mandarin, Arabic, and other widely spoken languages were employed. Bilingual staff also had to be trained to help in situations that were not life-threatening or critical.

Cultural Competency Training

All healthcare providers underwent training to enhance their cultural competency, ensuring they understood the cultural nuances and healthcare expectations of patients from different backgrounds (Schot et al., 2019).

Improvement in Patient Outcomes

The collaborations were beneficial in enhancing patient conditions, thus increasing the level of satisfaction they had since they felt more understood at their next visit, as gleaned from surveys conducted. Interpreter services made health information accessible, which made the beginning stages more conducive as the communication time for diagnosis and treatment plans was cut short. The patients’ health literacy was therefore boosted, leading to better compliance with medical regimens and appointments, as well as overall health. (Friedel et al., 2023).

Incorporating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Diversity

It was important to incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion into the solution. By appreciating and respecting cultural and linguistic diversity in the patients, the team was able to give equal focus to the services offered with little regard to one’s color, language, religion, etc. It underlined the need to respect the physical appearance, language, and colour of each student so that all these aspects were recognized and valued.

Equity

Equity was achieved by extending equal care to healthcare providers regardless of the patient’s ability to speak any language. The initiative was proposed to ensure that every patient had equal access to healthcare information and services, irrespective of his/her ability to speak English (Friedel et al., 2023).

Inclusion

The concept of inclusion was realized through the incorporation of interpreters and culturally appropriate care models that welcomed all patients. The management of the hospital empowered the interpreters and bilingual staff in the care process to ensure that all the patients felt valued and culturally appreciated. The cultural competency training further enhanced the development of an inclusive perspective among the caregivers.

Conclusion

This event emphasizes the need for joint efforts in the fight against current and future health crises, especially in multicultural environments. Thus, ensuring the focus on the principle of diversity, equity, and inclusion in this collaborative solution positively impacted patient experiences and overall care quality as well. Thus, this example shows the importance of teamwork and the great effects of implementing cultures in healthcare systems.

References

Al Shamsi, H., Almutairi, A. G., Al Mashrafi, S., & Al Kalbani, T. (2020). Implications of language barriers for healthcare: a systematic review. Oman Medical Journal, 35(2), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.5001/omj.2020.40

Ferreira, D. C., Vieira, I., Pedro, M. I., Caldas, P., & Varela, M. (2023). Patient Satisfaction with Healthcare Services and the Techniques Used for Its Assessment: A Systematic Literature Review and a Bibliometric Analysis. Healthcare, 11(5), 639. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10001171/

Friedel, A. L., Siegel, S., Kirstein, C. F., Gerigk, M., Bingel, U., Diehl, A., Steidle, O., Haupeltshofer, S., Andermahr, B., Chmielewski, W., & Kreitschmann-Andermahr, I. (2023). Measuring Patient Experience and Patient Satisfaction—How Are We Doing It and Why Does It Matter? A Comparison of European and U.S. American Approaches. Healthcare, 11(6). https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11060797

Schot, E., Tummers, L., & Noordegraaf, M. (2019). Working on working together: A systematic review on how healthcare professionals contribute to interprofessional collaboration. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 34(3), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1080/13561820.2019.1636007

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Competency

Collaborate in healthcare delivery systems settings for improved patient outcomes.

Transferable Skill

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion.

Scenario

You have a final interview for your first registered nurse position.

All candidates must come prepared to discuss a time when they collaborated with others to solve a problem in a healthcare delivery setting. The collaborative solution must have improved patient outcomes and incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion.

To prepare for the interview, you will create notes.

Directions

Select an example that demonstrates collaboration with others to solve a problem in a healthcare delivery setting to improve patient outcomes. The collaborative solution must incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Describe the problem, including the healthcare delivery setting and impact on patient outcomes.
Explain the collaborative solution, including the people involved and the improvement in patient outcomes.
Describe how diversity, equity, and inclusion were incorporated into the collaborative solution.

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