Improving the Patient Journey: Achieving positive outcomes for remote Aboriginal cardiac patients
Aboriginal patients from remote areas have special needs when interacting with health systems, and these needs must be met for safe care practices and optimal health outcomes to be achieved. A growing body of evidence suggests that relatively small modifications to existing systems and practices can lead to substantial improvements in health outcomes for these Aboriginal people.
This quality improvement, action research project aimed to establish if Aboriginal people living in remote areas who need to travel to a major metropolitan hospital for life-saving cardiac surgery benefit from improved arrangements around their journey to and from the hospital. Results from the research project demonstrated that improved cultural competency in a clinical setting led to improved clinical/cultural liaison; increased cultural respect for remote area Aboriginal patients; improved patient care; enhanced patient safety; reduced travel costs; less disruption in the hospital system; and improved hospital efficiencies.
| Author | M. Lawrence, Z. Dodd, S. Mohor, S. Dunn, C. de Crespigny, C. Power & L. MacKean |
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| Type | Publications |
| Year | 2009 |
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