During troubling times, it can be difficult to look on the bright side of things, but even some good can come out of something like the current COVID-19 pandemic. COVID is teaching us a lot about ourselves and our healthcare systems, particularly what we do well and where we are lacking. After looking at the medical data and how the pandemic has affected some in our community more than others, it allows hospitals systems to adjust to better help those who are affected most.
For example, Allina Health’s Abbott Northwestern Hospital (ANW) has been helping patients on Minneapolis’ south side for more than 130 years. They want to do everything in their power to help those in their community, but COVID-19 has put the spotlight on some cultural groups in the area that have been disproportionately affected by the virus, mainly the Somali community.
This has lead to a cultural awakening at the hospital and throughout many health systems across the country. We were unable to truly understand the deficit we faced until we had to face it head on, but now we can adjust and ensure all cultures have access to quality healthcare.
Changes At Abbott And Beyond
Abbott Northwestern Hospital has announced some major changes to better help serve overlooked cultures and communities in the area. Some of the changes they are making that are being mimicked across the US include:
- Addressing current gaps in the cultural and spiritual care teams.
- Hiring to better reflect the diversity of their patients and spiritual care needs.
- Enhanced training for ICU care teams to better communicate with patients and family members in a culturally-informed manner.
- Production of a video to help community members understand what to expect when receiving COVID-19 care.
- Ensuring there are no gaps or oversights with their interpretation services.
- Continued assessment to determine how to best diversify the workforce for the communities they serve.
Recognizing shortcomings is the first step in changing the culture for the better, and I think COVID-19 has helped many hospital systems and communities realize where change is most needed. Hopefully more healthcare facilities will be as ready to adapt to meet the needs of those they serve.