Expanding the Patient Safety Paradigm: Engaging Minority Communities in Safer Healthcare

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Slide 1

Expanding the Patient Safety Paradigm: Engaging Minority Communities in Safer Healthcare

Deborah Washington, PhD, RN
September 11, 2012
AHRQ Annual Meeting

Image: A group of ambiguous white figures stands grouped together in the background; one bright red figure stands to the fore.

Slide 2

MITSS: Medically Induced Trauma Support Services

To Support Healing and Restore Hope to Patients, Families, and Clinicians Following Adverse Medical Events.

Image: The logo of Medically Induced Trauma Support Services (MITSS) is shown.

Slide 3

Definition

• Medically induced trauma is the emotional toll that results from an adverse medical event that occurs during medical and/or surgical care. An adverse medical event is an injury (physical, psychological, or both) that is due to a medical intervention. It may or may not be an error, but is an undesirable outcome that results from some aspect of diagnosis or treatment, not an underlying disease process. Most importantly, these events affect the emotional well being of the patient, family member, and/or clinician involved.

Slide 4

Why Culture Matters

"This is the health field. Once you come to work and put on that name badge, whatever personal beliefs or opinions you have about other people and cultures, should be left behind. That has to be understood. You have to leave it outside. There are a lot of grouchy doctors and nurses walking around here."

Images: A photograph of a black woman and a poster from Medically Induced Trauma Support Services with the caption "Engaging Minority Communities in Safer Healthcare" are shown.

Slide 5

Cultural Competence & Patient Safety

• Language as efficiency tool.
• Cultural Awareness to ↓ defensive medicine.
• Cultural Competence to ↓ "strong arming."
• Training.

Slide 6

Patient Centered Care

• Individualized Care.
• Culturally informed decisionmaking.
• A "Regular" piece of work.

Slide 7

Barriers to engaging minorities in patient safety

• Belief in a "cover up" mentality.
• No identifiable proactive measures.
• No open dialogue on the issue of patient safety and the minority community.
• Insufficient training and provider awareness of the minority patient experience.
• Defensive stance of providers.
• Language barriers complicate care.
• Time constraints.
• Egocentric healthcare system.
• Disparities & Patient Safety complex task.

Slide 8

Getting The Community There

• Partnered with professional associations—(NERBNA) and (NAHN).
• Held the event at an urban location.
• Contacted 26 community health centers (CHCs).
• Social media, websites, snowball advertising.
• Keynotes from minority serving hospital and organizations.

Slide 9

MITSS Tool Kit

Image: A bright red medical bag is labeled "MITSS Tool Kit."

Slide 10

Opportunities for engaging minorities in patient safety and culturally competent care

• Minority groups can be part of efforts to improve patient safety and culturally competent care, including new immigrants, professional organizations, churches, retired clinicians etc.
• A new state law requires that a patient and family advisory council be established at each hospital in Massachusetts since October, 2010, offering new opportunities for patient engagement in safer healthcare, and more accountability in healthcare delivery. These Patient and Family Advisory Councils must include members of the diverse community where the hospital is situated.

Slide 11

Continuing the Work

• $5,000 monetary prize.

Image: The logo of the MITSS Annual HOPE (Honoring Outstanding People Everywhere) Award is shown.

Slide 12

Can the MITSS model be adapted and implemented in other communities around the country?