Building Cultural Awareness for Improved Patient Care
Published Tuesday, April 7, 2020
By Maryanne Matthews
Cultural awareness, sensitivity and respect are valuable aspects of health care that contribute to positive patient experiences and outcomes. Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre provides Indigenous cultural awareness education to staff, physicians and volunteers as part of our commitment to creating a more welcoming environment for Indigenous patients and families.
“Cultural awareness within health care helps create a safe space for open communication. When patients feel that health care providers respect their culture, they are likely to communicate more freely,” said Crystal Pirie, Senior Director of Indigenous Collaboration. “Our Hospital offers cultural awareness education so that we can provide care to Indigenous patients and families that is respectful of diverse backgrounds, values and traditions.”
The Hospital also provides Indigenous cultural awareness education to all staff, physicians and volunteers as part of the Respect project. Initiatives include an online webinar and discussion-based team workshops that encourage people to challenge their own beliefs and biases through increased self-awareness.
“The training really gave me insight into Canada’s true history with regards to Indigenous people, the many impacts of colonialism and intergenerational trauma, and how those impacts still exist and impact our own personal biases and behaviours,” said Tracey Hill, Interprofessional Educator at the Hospital. “I walked away with knowledge that has opened my eyes and changed my perspective about the system we live and work in. As health care workers, this knowledge is especially important and will help transform our organization to be more understanding, and to treat all patients and families with compassion and empathy.”
A group of over 50 Hospital staff have also participated in the KAIROS Blanket Exercise program, which is a unique and impactful participatory history lesson that fosters truth, understanding, respect and reconciliation among Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.
“Becoming culturally aware and sensitive is an ongoing journey and an important part of our commitment to provide health care that respects traditional knowledge and practices. The goal is to build our Hospital as a leader in the provision of health care for Indigenous patients and families,” said Pirie.
For more information about the Hospital’s commitment to Indigenous health, please visit www.tbrhsc.net.