C4: Ensuring equity through patient-centred care


Thursday 11 April 2024 | 15:00-16:00


Format: Presentation


Stream: Populations


Content filters: Recommended for those new to quality improvement; Recommended for those working at system level in QI


PART 1: Organisational health literacy – responding to population specific challenges and needs


The session will focus on a quality improvement initiative aimed at health literacy and person-centered care for vulnerable patients with diabetic foot ulcers at an orthopedic wound clinic in Denmark. Process advisers from Steno Diabetes Center Sjaelland and Danish Society for Patient Safety will describe their collaboration with the orthopedic wound clinic on improvement of Organisational Health Literacy (OHL), and reflect on how the OHL-approach can support organisations in elevating the patient voice; address different levels of health literacy; and initiate improvement initiatives across organizations and sectors.


As a result of this session, participants will be able to:



  • Reflect on their own practice in relation to health literacy and person-centred care

  • Understand the connection between health literacy and health inequality

  • Get inspiration from the OHL-approach to initiate collaborations across organisations and sectors related to equity in health


Dorte Lee PS! Danish Society for Patient Safety, Denmark


Liv Østergaard Steno Diabetes Center Sjaelland, Denmark


 


PART 2: Non-attendance at outpatients – connecting people and places 


Outpatient non-attendance is more than missed appointments; travel, expense, time off work, uncertainty, hope and more. We will explain how disaggregating data demonstrated avoidable disparities in access to outpatient care experienced by our most deprived populations. Recognising the need for person-centred solutions, we will explore how meaningful connection through targeted conversations with underserved populations has eliminated the differential in attendance rates for these patients, allowing the right patient to see the right clinician at the right time for them. We believe human connection is our most powerful tool for addressing healthcare inequalities. We invite delegates to join us to learn how we are putting this most powerful tool to use.


As a result of this session, participants will be able to:



  • Reflect on the approach to identifying disparities in access to services, patient outcomes and experiences

  • Utilise data to plan a targeted approach to addressing disparities

  • Recognise elements of organisational culture contributing to existing inequalities

  • Consider actions needed to shift organisational mindset towards equity of access, outcomes and experience


Ruw Abeyratne University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, England


 


PART 3: Improving the quality of annual health checks for patients with learning disabilities (PWLD)


Annual Health Checks (AHCs) were created to improve outcomes and proactively address any concerns. However, this is only useful if patients attend, and clinicians are supported and facilitated to complete these comprehensive reviews in a meaningful way. A QI project was formulated to improve the outcomes of AHCs by utilising a structured medication review (SMR) template within the AHC and running a series of webinars and training sessions that will help to upskill clinicians in primary care to complete these checks. This has helped to improve overall outcomes of the AHCs, including medication review and action plan follow up, which has led to an improvement in attendance annually.


As a result of this session, participants will be able to:



  • Strengthen knowledge and skills in the care and treatment of PWLD

  • Improve understanding about reasonable adjustments, how they form barriers to accessing care and how they can be overcome

  • Use a personalised approach to individualise care for PWLD

  • Understand the skills and resources required to undertake a good review in PWLD

  • Confidently complete all aspects of an AHC/Consultation


Rizwana Dudhia North East London Foundation Trust, England