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When we think of the health care delivery system and providing positive health care outcomes for patients it is important to consider cultural competency throughout the organization. Respecting the beliefs and cultural customs of patients helps to reduce patient anxiety, improves communications processes, and aids in relationship building processes between patients and their caregivers. Organizations that recognize the value and importance of cultural diversity also recognize that cultural competence reduces disparities that are often found within the health care delivery system (e.g., use of certain words in each language and hand gesture differences, medical biases, and individual norms and values). Benefits of cultural competency include aspects such as a greater understanding of patient expectations. When organizations have greater cultural competency, they gain a greater economic market share. Additionally, patients benefit through reduced medical error rates and enhanced preventative care programs. Lastly, communities benefit in terms of enhanced trust and a feeling of inclusion that promotes health care responsibility for self and the community.

The Joint Commission updated the cultural competency standards in 2010 to improve access to and quality of care for all patients. These standards are intended to provide guidance for organizations as they work to address the needs of all patients (The Joint Commission, 2011). Despite these very clear standards, health care organizations continue to see disparate outcomes due to implicit biases in health care workers. “Implicit bias refers to prejudicial attitudes towards and stereotypical beliefs about a particular social group or members therein. These prejudicial attitudes and stereotypical beliefs are activated spontaneously and effortlessly, which often result in discriminatory behaviors” (Hagiwara et al., 2020, para. 1).

· Give an example of an explicit and an implicit bias in health care. The example of systemic biases that may occur in policies (e.g., those held by insurance companies, federal and state mandates, etc.).

· Discuss the role biases have on patients’ perception of their access to and quality of health care.

· Identify three initiatives that can be taken to overcome implicit biases in a health care organization.

· Explain how your initiatives will reduce implicit bias.

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Sample Answer

Sure, here are some examples of explicit and implicit biases in healthcare, as well as the role they play in patients’ perception of their access to and quality of healthcare:

Explicit bias is a conscious and deliberate form of bias. For example, a healthcare worker may explicitly believe that people of a certain race or ethnicity are more likely to be non-compliant with treatment. This explicit bias could lead the healthcare worker to treat these patients differently, such as by providing them with less information or attention.

Implicit bias is a subconscious form of bias. Implicit biases are often formed based on our experiences and the information we are exposed to. For example, a healthcare worker may have an implicit bias against people who are overweight or obese. This implicit bias could lead the healthcare worker to make assumptions about these patients’ health, such as that they are not as motivated to lose weight or that they are not as healthy as other patients.

Full Answer Section

Systemic bias is a form of bias that is embedded in the policies and procedures of an organization. For example, an insurance company may have a policy that requires patients to have a certain level of income in order to be eligible for coverage. This policy could have a discriminatory impact on people of color, who are more likely to live in poverty.

These biases can have a significant impact on patients’ perception of their access to and quality of healthcare. Patients who experience bias may feel that they are not being treated fairly or that their needs are not being met. This can lead to distrust of the healthcare system and a reluctance to seek care.

There are a number of initiatives that can be taken to overcome implicit biases in a healthcare organization. These include:

  • Training: Healthcare workers should be trained on implicit bias and how to identify and mitigate it in their work.
  • Embedding cultural competency: Healthcare organizations should embed cultural competency into their policies and procedures. This means ensuring that all patients are treated with respect and that their cultural needs are met.
  • Creating a culture of inclusion: Healthcare organizations should create a culture of inclusion where everyone feels welcome and valued. This means hiring a diverse workforce and providing opportunities for employees to learn about different cultures.

These initiatives can help to reduce implicit bias in the healthcare system and improve the quality of care for all patients.

Here are some additional thoughts on how these initiatives can reduce implicit bias:

  • Training: Training on implicit bias can help healthcare workers to become aware of their own biases and how they can impact their interactions with patients. This training can also teach healthcare workers how to identify and mitigate bias in their work.
  • Embedding cultural competency: Embedding cultural competency into policies and procedures can help to ensure that all patients are treated with respect and that their cultural needs are met. This means having policies and procedures that are inclusive of all cultures and that do not discriminate against any particular group.
  • Creating a culture of inclusion: Creating a culture of inclusion can help to reduce implicit bias by making everyone feel welcome and valued. This means having a workforce that is diverse and that provides opportunities for employees to learn about different cultures.

By taking these initiatives, healthcare organizations can help to reduce implicit bias and improve the quality of care for all patients.

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