Case Studies
A collaborative effort among Harborview Medical Center, two massage schools, the Southeast Seattle Senior Foundation and a group of older Somali women to address the muskuloskeletal pain and social isolation of older Somali women.
Although it is accepted that cultural competency training is a vital part of reducing health disparities, ensuring that trainees are 'ready' is an important first step. This case study looks at models to promote trainee readiness to reduce health disparities.
To help those with reading and language challenges, UVA Health System staff developed a curriculum that aids their understanding and navigation of a hospital and health care setting. This project seeks to transform the experience of low literacy patients from the community with the ultimate aim of…
The YWCA of Greater Milwaukee created a diversity training program focused on race and racism, in partnership with Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare. With the YWCA's mission centered on eliminating racism, and the health care system's commitment to diversity and inclusion from an employee/…
The University of Michigan Health System used lean management and the plan-do-check-act cycle to improve the quality of interpretation services across all languages.
The University of Maryland College Park, School of Public Health and its Center for Health Literacy developed a cultural and health literacy competency primer. The primer is intended to serve as a resource guide on cultural competency and health literacy for educators of health professional…
Disparities in care were noted for diabetes, cardio vascular disease and cancer screeening for Hmong patients at a local family clinic. However, the perception of their care was that they had received excellent care. The case study looks at some of the reasons why they perceived the care was…
The treatment of asthma requires cultural and linguistic sensitivity. Ideal treatment options require patient education and self-management; yet, patients with limited-English proficiency and low health literacy may present a challenge to health care providers. Through an Environmental Protection…
An opportunity was identified to improve the care of the ventilated patient through education and adoption of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement's evidence-based care bundle for the mechanically ventilated patient. A Six Sigma statistical process control chart analysis for VAPs identified a…
Good Samaritan Regional Health Center's medical unit required four hours, 18 minutes to discharge an inpatient once the discharge order had been written. A CQI+ team was sanctioned to reduce that time. The team used Lean/Six Sigma process improvement strategies to decrease both the hospital's…