Embracing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Patient Advocacy: A Call for Healthcare Transformation

by Cheryl Petruk, MBA, B.Mgt.

In the evolving landscape of healthcare, the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) have emerged as pivotal in ensuring that all patients receive the highest quality of care. Patient advocacy, at its core, is about championing patients' rights, needs, and voices. However, to be truly effective, advocacy must be deeply rooted in DEI, addressing the social determinants of health that often act as barrierstoequitablehealthcare.

UnderstandingDiversity,Equity,andInclusioninHealthcare

Diversity in healthcare refers to differences that include race, ethnicity, gender, age, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, disability, and religion. Equity involves recognizing and addressing the disparities and barriers individuals face, ensuring everyone has access to the same opportunities. Inclusion means creating environments where individuals or groups can feel welcomed,respected,supported,andvaluedtoparticipatefully. In patient advocacy, embracing DEI means recognizing different populations' unique challenges and working to eliminate disparities. This approach improves individual patient outcomes and strengthenstheoverallhealthcaresystem.

TheRoleofSocialDeterminantsofHealth

The social determinants of health are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, andage.Thesefactorssignificantlyimpacthealthoutcomesandinclude:

•EconomicStability:Income,employment,andfinancialsecurity.

•Education:Accesstoqualityeducationandlifelonglearning.

•HealthcareAccess:Availabilityandqualityofhealthcareservices.

•NeighborhoodandEnvironment:Safehousing,transportation,andcommunityresources.

• Social and Community Context: Support systems, social integration, and exposure to violence or discrimination.

Addressing these determinants is crucial for achieving health equity. For instance, a patient’s ability to manage a chronic condition may be severely limited by financial constraints, lack of access to nutritious food, or unstable housing. Advocacy efforts must, therefore, extend beyond theclinicalsettingtoaddressthesebroaderissues. ChallengesinAchievingDEIinPatientAdvocacy

Embracing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Patient Advocacy con`t

Despite the growing awareness of DEI, several challengespersist:

1. Implicit Bias: Healthcare professionals may unconsciously hold biases that affect patient interactions, leading to unequaltreatment.

2. Cultural Competency: A lack of understanding of different cultural backgrounds can result in miscommunication and mistrustbetweenpatientsandproviders.

3. Access Barriers: Socioeconomic disparities often limit accesstohealthcareservicesformarginalizedpopulations.

4. Policy Gaps: Existing healthcare policies may not adequatelyaddresstheuniqueneedsofdiversepopulations.

StrategiesforImprovingDEIinPatientAdvocacytoovercomethesechallenges,a multifacetedapproachisnecessary:

1. Education and Training: Continuous education on cultural competency, implicit bias, and the socialdeterminantsofhealthshouldbemandatoryforallhealthcareprofessionals.

2. Community Engagement: Building strong relationships with diverse communities helps us understandtheirspecificneedsanddeveloptailoredadvocacystrategies.

3. Policy Advocacy: Advocating for policies that address health disparities and promote equity is essential. This includes pushing for reforms in healthcare financing, expanding access to care, andenhancingsocialsupportsystems.

4. Data Collection and Analysis: Collecting and analyzing data on health outcomes across differentpopulationscanhelpidentifydisparitiesandinformtargetedinterventions.

5. Patient-Centered Care: Ensuring that care is tailored to the individual needs of each patient, respectingtheircultural,social,andeconomiccontext.

ThePathForward

Improving DEI in patient advocacy is a moral imperative and a practical necessity for a robust healthcare system. As advocates, we must strive to see beyond patients' immediate clinical needs and address the broader social determinants that impact their health. By embracing diversity, promoting equity, and fostering inclusion, we can ensure that every patient receives thecaretheydeserve,ultimatelyleadingtoahealthier,morejustsociety.

At Heal Canada, we are committed to advocating for these changes and supporting initiatives to bridge the gaps in our healthcare system. Together, we can create a future where healthcare equityisnotanaspirationbutareality.

Cheryl Petruk is a dedicated caregiver and advocate with extensive experience in patient advocacy, particularly in the context of myeloproliferative neoplasms. She is the founder of Heal Canada and a contributor to the My Blood My Health digital magazine. Cheryl holds an MBA in Community Economic Development and a Bachelor of Management in HR/LR. Cheryl also teachesintheHealthcareAdministrationProgramataPublicCollegeinOntario,Canada.

Heal Canada and Pat ADV Hub in the USA have embarked on a collaborative journey, aiming to revolutionize the realm of patient advocacy across North America. This pioneering partnership brings together two influential organizations from neighboring countries, combining their extensiveexpertiseandresources.

The objective is to expand and enhance the access to critical information for patient advocates, ensuring that individuals across the continent receive the best possible support and guidance in theirhealthcarejourneys.

By bridging the gap between Canadian and American healthcare advocacy, this alliance promises to foster a more informed, empowered, and connected community of patient advocates, significantly contributing to the improvement of healthcare experiences for countlessindividuals.

email: patadvhub@gmail.com www.patadvhub.org