Healthcare Quality Congress: Culture competency needed to close quality gaps
BOSTON—With minorities and seniors as two of the largest, fastest-growing segments of the population, the health system needs to look to reducing variation of care as a quality improvement initiative, according to Kevin Lofton, CEO and president of the Denver-based Catholic Health Initiatives during the 9th Annual Healthcare Quality Congress, presented by the World Congress.
To improve quality and contain cost, healthcare leaders must effectively address the needs of these groups, said Lofton, noting the need is to close healthcare quality gaps and make sure the different factors of diversity will not be the reason people don’t get great care.
In his presentation, “Creating Delivery Models to meet the Needs of Minorities and the Aging Population,” Lofton’s slide presentation noted that by 2030, the elderly population will increase 80 percent, to 20 percent of the total population. Lofton’s slideshow additionally stated that by 2042, whites will be a minority in the U.S. (47 percent of the population) and the African-American population will grow by 56 percent.
An equitable, person-centered and quality form of care is integral to the mission wherein the goals cannot be achieved with unmet needs or variations in care, Lofton noted.
Lofton showed 2010 data from “2010 Health, U.S. Report,” in which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) demonstrated that cardiovascular deaths by race/gender have been declining. For African-American males, there were 450,000 deaths in 1997, which decreased to 300,000 deaths in 2007. In 1997, about 350,000 white males died of cardiovascular causes. This figure fell to 250,000 in 2007.
Lofton pointed out while the reductions are great, the gaps between the groups remain the same.
“Some things we know are coming as a result of healthcare reform,” Lofton said. The healthcare system is on the road toward value-based purchasing and carrot/stick approaches. “The problem is we are still living in today’s world,” said Lofton who referred to some upcoming challenges like penalties for readmissions and hospital-acquired conditions and the notion of transparency.
“Improving the health of communities boils down to effective population management,” said Lofton. Lofton advocated increasing staff understanding of different cultures to break down barriers and encourage measurement of cultural competency in education, licensing and accrediting. Lofton stated that more than 300 different languages are spoken in the U.S. and that 80 percent of hospitals frequently encounter patients with limited English. Lofton advised to have nurse navigators and outreach staff to bridge cultural and language gaps.
“You can’t manage what you don’t measure,” said Lofton, proclaiming that data collection can help manage a competent cultural plan. “Collect data to know if you’re reaching the right populations.”
Lofton concluded that right now is a unique opportunity for healthcare leaders to:
To improve quality and contain cost, healthcare leaders must effectively address the needs of these groups, said Lofton, noting the need is to close healthcare quality gaps and make sure the different factors of diversity will not be the reason people don’t get great care.
In his presentation, “Creating Delivery Models to meet the Needs of Minorities and the Aging Population,” Lofton’s slide presentation noted that by 2030, the elderly population will increase 80 percent, to 20 percent of the total population. Lofton’s slideshow additionally stated that by 2042, whites will be a minority in the U.S. (47 percent of the population) and the African-American population will grow by 56 percent.
An equitable, person-centered and quality form of care is integral to the mission wherein the goals cannot be achieved with unmet needs or variations in care, Lofton noted.
Lofton showed 2010 data from “2010 Health, U.S. Report,” in which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) demonstrated that cardiovascular deaths by race/gender have been declining. For African-American males, there were 450,000 deaths in 1997, which decreased to 300,000 deaths in 2007. In 1997, about 350,000 white males died of cardiovascular causes. This figure fell to 250,000 in 2007.
Lofton pointed out while the reductions are great, the gaps between the groups remain the same.
“Some things we know are coming as a result of healthcare reform,” Lofton said. The healthcare system is on the road toward value-based purchasing and carrot/stick approaches. “The problem is we are still living in today’s world,” said Lofton who referred to some upcoming challenges like penalties for readmissions and hospital-acquired conditions and the notion of transparency.
“Improving the health of communities boils down to effective population management,” said Lofton. Lofton advocated increasing staff understanding of different cultures to break down barriers and encourage measurement of cultural competency in education, licensing and accrediting. Lofton stated that more than 300 different languages are spoken in the U.S. and that 80 percent of hospitals frequently encounter patients with limited English. Lofton advised to have nurse navigators and outreach staff to bridge cultural and language gaps.
“You can’t manage what you don’t measure,” said Lofton, proclaiming that data collection can help manage a competent cultural plan. “Collect data to know if you’re reaching the right populations.”
Lofton concluded that right now is a unique opportunity for healthcare leaders to:
- Assume stronger leadership;
- Work closely with community organizations and public health agencies; and
- Improve care delivery to all segments of the population.