Health and Lifestyle
FAMILY WELLNESS
Inclusion in Health Care by DR TAINA TURCASSO, ND RM I’ve written about the important of inclusivity in a health care setting in the past but the demand for health care workers to actively work to be more inclusive has increased significantly over the last two years, or at least our awareness of it has. As we become more and more aware of the impact of a less than inclusive model of health care on certain groups of patients, it becomes apparent that it can actually be a matter of life or death for some of these folks and thus requires our urgent attention. This is especially relevant for racialized, Black, and Indigenous peoples, those at the lower end of the socioeconomic gradient, women and gender-diverse people, people with disabilities, and other equity-seeking communities. As I build my own small practice in Fernie, I am trying to do my own work to ensure that every aspect of my practice is inclusive but it truly is work. It takes more than just a passive interest in creating an inclusive space and experience for your patients. It takes intention, time, creativity, and a commitment to revisiting your website, forms, office space, etc. and make any necessary changes. It takes advocating for your patients when they are being mistreated. It takes checking your own biases (we all have them) by constantly doing the inner work to see where they may lie. In an effort to ensure that my approach to creating an inclusive clinic and experience for my patients, I have put together a comprehensive list of items to work through that I plan to review quarterly to create the best and most importantly, safest, experience for them. I encourage everyone to work through this list (or something similar) whether or not they work in
“As we become more and more aware of the impact of a less than inclusive model of health care on certain groups of patients, it becomes apparent that it can actually be a matter of life or death for some of these folks and thus requires our urgent attention.”
Stock Photo populations you expect to see in your community and in your clinic and find out what may make their health care concerns and experiences different.
Clinic Space and Marketing
healthcare, but it is especially important if you do.
Go over every aspect of your clinic materials, including intake forms, website, clinic space, and brochures/information sheets. Do they make everyone feel welcome and included? Is there any terminology that may be considered exclusive? If so, update them and keep doing so as your awareness evolves. Is your staff diverse? Have an awareness of who you are giving job opportunities to, particularly if you are a larger organization.
It All Starts With You
Welcome/Access
What are your biases? What current practices do you currently have that discriminate against marginalized communities such as those listed above? Education is fundamental, beginning with completing coursework in cultural competence, anti-racism, and antidiscrimination. Learn about the different
Do marginalized groups feel welcome by your clinic? Is it apparent on your website or in other marketing information that you welcome diverse populations and have a special interest in working with ALL people? Does everyone have access to your care? Do some outreach to local
