Black women’s simple but powerful plea for patient satisfaction surveys helped kickstart local efforts to create a more inclusive environment that could serve as a model for hospitals and healthcare systems across the country. rice field.
“I wish I had a comb for my hair,” was the reaction of a patient in the Mental Health Crisis Stabilization Unit at the University of Iowa Hospital & Clinic (UI Hospital & Clinic). Hair care products available in hospital rooms included fine-toothed combs and sulfate-containing shampoos designed for the fine, straight hair commonly found in Caucasians.
Survey responses are also a reminder of the proactive approach needed in U.S. healthcare to meet the personalized needs of historically marginalized patient populations.
“I wondered: ‘Why don’t we have combs? I was embarrassed to learn that I didn’t.
Dr. Tate is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Vice Chair of Education at UI Hospitals & Clinics, part of the University of Iowa Health Care, providing enterprise solutions for equipping leadership, physicians, and care teams. It is a member of the AMA Health Systems Program that offers: Resources to propel the future of healthcare.
embarrassing oversight
embarrassing oversight
Wide-toothed combs are often preferred by people with curly or tightly curled hair that tangles easily, usually breaks, and is prone to damage from daily grooming.
In 2019, UI Hospitals & Clinics began contacting hospitals across the United States to see how other healthcare systems are sourcing these products. This includes many areas with more diverse patient populations than Iowa, but we were unable to find hospitals supplying these products. For systematic or large patients.
“I had no idea that people with different hair types needed different shampoos and hair care products,” Dr. Tate said. I think the fact that we were unable to identify a hospital goes a long way for us.”
Combs, shampoos and other hair care products have been provided to hospital patients for decades to improve their comfort during the hard times of hospital stay. Products currently available to patients at UI Hospitals & Clinics include sulfate-free shampoos and hair moisturizers such as coconut oil and shea butter, which are designed to nourish hair regardless of race or ethnicity. Beneficial for dry people.
Additionally, wide combs and a protective statin head scarf are provided to protect the hair shaft. And to minimize razor burn, we’ve got high-quality single-edged razors and soothing shaving cream. fake folliculitis barbe.
Dr. Tate connected with Nkanyezi Ferguson, MD, clinical associate professor of dermatology at UI Health Care. Dr. Ferguson also directs his Ethnic Skin Care Clinic located within the System’s Dermatology Clinic.
See how the health system is learning to advance health equity as part of the AMA Advancing Equity through Quality and Safety Peer Network. The network aims to provide participating health systems with basic knowledge and concrete tools to build equity into their overall health care delivery practices. Promote racial justice and fairness for patients, staff and communities.
Also, check out the five steps health systems can take to turn health equity into action.
Re-examine “as is”
Re-examine “as is”
Dr. Ferguson, who also served as Director of Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Iowa Health Care Graduate Medical Education Office, says the experience has surfaced issues many had never considered before.
“I’m of African-American descent and, obviously, I know it’s a problem,” she said, explaining that responding to the survey led to a reassessment of “the way things are.”
After searching in vain for other hospitals that might be able to connect them with experienced distributors of hair care products preferred by black patients, Drs. Ferguson and Tate decided which products they considered essential. focus groups were convened to identify which brands were familiar to patients.
“We wanted these products to be easily recognizable by patients,” said Dr. Ferguson.
Recommendations were also received from community and patient focus groups, as well as approximately 100 staff members who volunteered to participate in this effort.
Doctor. Tate, Ferguson, and their colleagues initially decided to focus on beard and hair care, specifically products for those whose hair is tightly curled and coiled.
After piloting the new product in six hospital units before the pandemic, it is now available “throughout the house” in all inpatient wards and emergency departments, Dr. Tate said.
Discover AMA’s online education to empower individuals and organizations in healthcare and beyond to advance racial justice and equity. You will also learn about the actions of the AMA House of Delegates in support of healthcare workplace policies that promote the acceptance of natural hairstyles and cultural hats.
positive feedback
positive feedback
A key component of this initiative is educating staff and patients about the availability of these products and gathering feedback. This is overwhelmingly positive.
“This is a great idea and very useful,” commented one patient.
“It feels good to have products for our hair,” said another.
The pediatric patient’s mother was moved to tears. “She felt it was very profound. It was something that was considered, and she felt it was so important that hospitals had to provide patients,” Dr. Ferguson said.
UI Hospitals & Clinics are currently receiving inquiries from other hospitals and healthcare systems looking to adopt the idea.
“We have spoken to several agencies, both large and small. They just asked about some of the logistics of the program and where they can get supplies,” he said. Dr. Ferguson said, “It’s been really rewarding to share that information and see how other institutions model it and do their own research on what works in their systems.” It is a matter of
Learn more about the work of the AMA Center for Health Equity and read the AMA’s strategic plan to embed racial justice and advance health equity.
