Actions to take at the practice level At the practice level, interventions can be implemented to promote health equality for all patients. Organizational changes can be utilized to reduce barriers to care for underserved communities, such as (Andermann, 2016): ● Providing interpreter services to patients in need ● Reimbursing public transportation costs and utilizing childcare services so that patients can easily attend appointments ● Opening the clinic for extended hours on some days so that patients can attend appointments after work ● Opening new practice locations in or near underserved neighborhoods or holding clinic days at temporary locations that are convenient for underserved communities, such as in schools or churches ● Using financial incentives to reward healthcare workers who improve patient outcomes ● Creating a safe, welcoming, and culturally sensitive environment in the healthcare facility Healthcare facilities may gain helpful insight into practice changes that increase accessibility and better meet patient needs by using patient experience surveys or establishing a patient council. Some communities that are particularly difficult to reach may benefit from more proactive approaches, such as individual case management, targeted outreach, or patient tracking. Depending on the specific needs of the local community, some practices may benefit from the use of patient navigators to help improve access to support services. For example, a clinic with a high rate of low-income uninsured patients may benefit from the use of health insurance navigators who speak the same language as the patients to help them enroll in Medicaid. Clinics that do not have room in their budget for hiring patient navigators can consider shifting these tasks to other members of the care team or utilizing volunteer services (Andermann, 2016). Emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration and patient- centered care is also beneficial in reducing barriers to care for underserved communities. Review the scenario below: Interprofessional Scenario: The primary care team gathers for a case conference regarding Mr. Smith, who presents with poorly controlled diabetes and housing instability. The physician discusses Mr. Smith’s medical history and the challenges he faces due to homelessness. The nurse expresses concern about Mr. Smith’s ability to manage his condition effectively without stable housing. The social worker highlights the urgent need to address Mr. Smith’s Actions to take at the community level At the community level, healthcare providers can partner with local groups, social leaders, and public health officials to collaborate on creating healthier environments. Stakeholders from different sectors, such as medicine, justice, and education, can work together on initiatives to create broad impacts on population health. These initiatives should be relevant to the community’s needs and can range from implementing nutrition programs in schools, to increasing access to early childhood education, to improving safety in parks (Andermann, 2016). Healthcare providers can utilize their clinical experience to engage in activism in support of social change. Supporting Improving health literacy The CDC defines health literacy as “the degree to which individuals have the ability to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others” (CDC,
housing situation and suggests connecting him with local resources. The occupational therapist joins the discussion and emphasizes the importance of assessing Mr. Smith’s ability to perform daily activities in his current living environment. She suggests developing adaptive strategies to help him manage his diabetes despite housing instability. The physical therapist shares insights on addressing physical barriers to health caused by inadequate housing conditions. He proposes interventions to improve Mr. Smith’s mobility and functional abilities. The team collaborates to develop a comprehensive care plan for Mr. Smith. The physician adjusts Mr. Smith’s treatment plan to accommodate his living situation, prescribing medications that are affordable and feasible for him to obtain without stable housing. The nurse provides education on managing diabetes while homeless and offers support in accessing healthcare services. The social worker connects Mr. Smith with local housing assistance programs, shelters, and social services to address his housing instability. The physical and occupational therapists work together to develop adaptive strategies and physical interventions to improve Mr. Smith’s ability to manage his condition and maintain his overall health and well-being. Throughout the scenario, the team emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and patient-centered care in addressing Mr. Smith’s complex needs. Working together, they highlighted specific ways to improve Mr. Smith’s health outcomes and enhance his quality of life despite the challenges he faces due to social determinants of health. Self-Assessment Quiz Question #5 Which of the following is NOT an intervention that healthcare providers can implement at the practice level to promote health equality for all patients? a. Closing the clinic early on weekdays, since patients cannot attend appointments while they are working. b. Opening new practice locations in or near underserved neighborhoods. c. Providing interpreter services to patients who do not speak English. d. Reimbursing public transportation costs so that patients can easily attend appointments. political candidates and social movements that campaign for affordable healthcare, higher minimum wages, low-cost childcare, and other measures can promote health equity. Providers can speak out about the significant health impact of social determinants in order to influence public policy changes. Engaging with the community can help empower people to address social norms that are not contributing to healthy living. Community relationships can be utilized to create organizations to promote humanitarian causes. Local research can be conducted to collect data on locally relevant social determinants to improve healthcare practices and advocate for change (Andermann, 2016).
2023). The CDC identified that nearly 9 out of every 10 adults have difficulty understanding and utilizing complex health information and medical jargon when it is filled with complex, unfamiliar terms. Health literacy issues can
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