Leadership in Health Care Services

Question: Discuss about the Leadership in Health Care Services. Answer: Introduction: Background: Various concerns related to inequalities in the access to health care services, its provision, and health outcomes have been observed for the Indigenous populations globally Smylie, J. These inequalities have prompted various health services, professionals, and regulatory bodies to examine the methods of overcoming these inequalities for better provision of health care services to the Indigenous groups (Cunningham, 2010). A large number of evidence is observed regarding the unequal health status, as well as, health care between the non-Indigenous Australians and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, also known as Indigenous Australians. Moreover, these inequalities, most particularly evident in communicable and chronic diseases, mental health, infant health, and life expectancy (Walker, Stomski, Price, Jackson-Barrett, 2014). Aim: As I am a nurse and belong to the non-Indigenous community, there are various issues that arise due to these cultural differences in the provision of the healthcare services to the Indigenous people and hence on their well-being. Therefore, the main aim of this paper is to analyze the various issues that hinder the provision of the competent healthcare to the Indigenous people and how these can be overcome. Factors responsible for unequal health care delivery: There are various factors that contribute towards these inequalities, with the largest contributors related to the social factors, which lies outside the system of health care. Studies have also shown that ethnicities have also contributed towards this inequitable access to the health care system and hence the health disparities (Davidhizar Newman Giger, 2000). Globally, various researchers and their studies have observed the negative effects of the provision of the ethnocentric healthcare services on the Indigenous populations and their health status. The deficiency of Indigenous health care workers and staff in the healthcare systems of service delivery results in the delayed or under-use of services by the Indigenous people (Ong, Carter, Kelaher, Anderson, 2012). An increasing evidence has been observed in the fact that health disparities amongst non-Indigenous Australians and Indigenous Australians are related to the accessi bility of healthcare services. Accessibility can be influenced by geographic or economic, as well as, by various sociocultural factors. Hence, it is very important and necessary to increase the number of efforts for improving the performance and provision of all the services, systems, and health practitioners on working work with the diverse population of patients (Davis Shaw, 2000). Barriers between the non-Indigenous health practitioners and Indigenous patients: Communication between the non-Indigenous nurses and the Indigenous patients has been recognized as a hindrance for the effective Indigenous health care outcomes (Durie, 2003). I remember during my clinical practice, I have to assist my mentor in a case of an Indigenous patient. I observed that the language was a major barrier in between the patient and me, which then resulted in the misunderstanding. The reason behind this communication barrier is the fact that few of the Aboriginal people conversed in the Aboriginal English that often is different in meaning and pronunciation from the standard Australian English (Regmi, 2012). This was the reason in our case also and I realized that effective communication skill is very important in dealing with the patients of the Indigenous community. Hence, the foremost part of the framework for the effective provision of healthcare services is the development of effective communication amongst the health practitioner and the Indigenous patients. The nursing interaction with the Indigenous patients should be effective, as well as, culturally safe so that a therapeutic relationship can be developed amongst the nurse and the patient (Stewart, Sanson-Fisher, Eades, Fitzgerald, 2012). The core competencies of the framework include postcolonial understanding, which gives a description of the connection between historical, as well as, current government practices towards the Aboriginal patients. The effective communication is an important step required for the better health care provision amongst the Aboriginal patients (Durie, 2003). Cultural competency framework: To improve status and quality of health services of the Indigenous people, a fundamental shift is required in the basic concept of the health services to incorporate the world and cultural views of the Indigenous patients as a central theme for designing and managing the state health systems. The primary strategy that should be followed for the reduction of healthcare access inequalities and provision of healthcare services is the cultural competency (Devadasan, 2003). This strategy focuses on enhancing the ability and capacity of the healthcare service systems, health care organizations, as well as, health care practitioners for providing more responsive care to the distinct cultural groups, according to the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 20132023 also called the NATSIHP (Hendrick, Britton, Hoffman, Kickett, 2014). Key components of the framework: The framework is formed of important attitudes, knowledge, and skills that are required by the health practitioner to work appropriately and respectfully in the Indigenous people's health settings, as well as, to advocate the equity in the provision of the health and outcomes (Gruen, 2002). I also remember that while dealing with the patient of Indigenous community, I was making a direct eye contact with the patient, which made him feel uncomfortable. I at that time was unable to analyze the reason behind his uncomfortableness. However, my mentor then told me that some Indigenous find it disrespectful or rude, and we should create a negative interpretation if the eye contact is being avoided by the patient. Hence, communication skills that are culturally safe are a fundamental requirement for the nurse for effective management of the Indigenous health care setting. Nurses require the up-to-date and comprehensive set of skills and knowledge across the different health issues faced by the Indigenous people. The adoption of management strategies will help in incorporating an understanding of the health and wellbeing views, and the social determinants of health, as well as, their influence on the Indigenous peoples health behaviors (Palafox, Buenconsejo-Lum, Riklon, Waitzfelder, 2002). Cultural safety is the important concept of the framework, but there is a need for cultural awareness, as well as, sensitivity programs. Nurses should actively model the required behaviors and attitudes that are culturally safe and competent (Siegel, C., Haugland, G., Chambers, E., 2003). Effective communication should be used while dealing with the patients. Nurses should develop the ability to provide culturally sensitive, inclusive, and respectful services to the Aboriginal patients (Kessler, 2005). The National framework for Aboriginal interpretation and translation: The National Indigenous Languages Policy offers for the Commonwealth Government to perform with the Northern Territory and the states for introducing the national framework to have effective use and supply of the Indigenous peoples language interpreters, as well as, translators. The components of the National framework consists of developing and strengthening of the Indigenous people interpreting services by establishing coordinator or mentor positions, training and accrediting the interpreters, providing the base salary funds for the Indigenous interpreters, as well as, administrative support for them, increasing the provision of the Indigenous interpreters by establishment and development of the retention strategy and national recruitment with flexibility, increasing the demand for the Indigenous interpreters by increased training for the non-government and the government (Stewart, Sanson-Fisher, Eades, Fitzgera ld, 2012). Conclusion: To improve the culturally safe clinical and nursing practice, the training of cultural competency is increasingly being encompassed within the education of the undergraduate nursing program. It has been observed that the practice of the culturally safe environment is the one important element of the framework of the cultural competence that may decrease the health care gap, which is experienced by the Aboriginal Australians (Sletto, 2009). Cultural competence consists of knowledge about cultural safety, cultural awareness, and cultural respect. As it is clear that there is a gap amongst the health status of the non-Indigenous Australians and the Indigenous Australians, health care practitioners require to find different ways and methods to decrease this gap (Westerman, 2004). The provision of health care services that is culturally sensitive and safe is considered as an important means of decreasing this gaps of health status between the Aboriginal people and the non-Indigenous people (OBrien, 2006). References Cunningham, C. (2010). Health of indigenous peoples.BMJ,340(apr19 1), c1840-c1840. Davidhizar, R. Newman Giger, J. (2000). 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