Prioritizing Diversity , Health Equity , and Inclusivity ( DHEI ) in Rehabilitation Services
In pediatric rehabilitation settings , literature shows that when compared to white peers , Black , Hispanic and Indigenous children have higher mortality rates , more severe injuries , are younger at the time of injury and are more likely to be treated in nonpediatric facilities , have language barriers and have decreased access to care . Additionally , children who access rehabilitation services are , by definition , children with disabilities and are at risk for future inequity and lack of access to medical services . That ’ s why Children ’ s Hospital Colorado ’ s Pediatric Rehabilitation Department has both the opportunity and responsibility to provide culturally humble and responsive care .
Team members Alison Colbert , PhD ; Caroline Freer , speech language pathologist ; Jennifer Guenther , physical therapist ; Devin Devlin , child life specialist ; and Taylor Jane Brown , RN , BSN , CPN , CRRN , formed a workgroup to identify concerns regarding diversity , health equity and inclusivity ( DHEI ) within the rehabilitation department . The team partnered with Susan Apkon , MD ; Aaron Powell , MD ; and Mike Dichiaro , MD , and met with executive leadership to escalate identified gaps in care . Additionally , Taylor Jane Brown , RN , BSN , CPN , CRRN ; Skylar Simpson , RN , BSN , CPN , CRRN ; and Tracy Owigo , RN , BSN , met separately with Pat Givens , DHA , EdM , RN , NEA-BC , to discuss DHEI opportunities for the surgical / rehab inpatient unit , or Level 6 , nursing team to implement unitwide .
These separate but intersecting groups , share common goals to create a nursing committee for DHEI on Level 6 and to build and maintain a closet that provides clothing and snacks for long-term patients and their families . Additionally , these groups are working to ensure that processes that affect patients in the rehabilitation program also address the nuances of a diverse population and ensure an equitable impact to all patients . To that end , team members have examined the primary patient assignments model , access to handoff notes , enforcement of policies and standards of behavior to identify next steps in this work .
The overarching goal of these groups is simple : to become a brave space where team members are encouraged to discuss and address implicit bias while promoting resources to process secondary trauma . This interdisciplinary group is energized by this work , and hopes to solidify some of its plans to create tangible , sustainable and impactful solutions throughout 2022 and beyond .
TAYLOR JANE BROWN , RN , BSN , CPN , CRRN
16 People