Pilot programs to create cultural safety in ED

TWO Grampians Health staff members have been awarded a grant to research how the emergency department can be made culturally safer for First Nations people.

First Nations health adviser Jessica Payne and nursing and midwifery research student Karina Demasson received the grant from the Medibank Better Health Research Hub.

Researchers are supported to implement and evaluate evidence-based health improvements in regional and rural areas across 18 months.

Research conducted in Victorian emergency departments indicates that racism, distrust in the health system and lack of cultural safety contribute to ‘leave events’ in Aboriginal patients.

“We know that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are more likely to leave an emergency department before being seen by a medical practitioner and we also know that they have poorer health outcomes than non-Indigenous Australians, so it’s important to make it easier for them to stay and get the medical treatment they need,” Ms Payne said.

The aim of the project is to improve the quality of care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who access the Grampians Health emergency department in Ballarat.

“We’ll be going through a culturally informed co-design process to adapt and pilot an existing culturally safe ED program for Ballarat, ensuring that this works for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our region and isn’t just a cut and paste solution that might isolate some patients,” Ms Payne said.

The MOB ED program in the Queensland Health Service places an emphasis on recognition of identification as essential to culturally appropriate, high-quality care.

Following the creation of the project in Queensland’s children’s hospitals, the number of patients identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander increased by more than 10 per cent.

“To ensure the best outcome for a culturally safe and aware ED, we will work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to design, deliver, monitor and review this project in Ballarat,” Ms Payne said.

“It’s important that we get it right for both the health service and our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members.

“Other health services who have implemented a culturally safe ED program have seen improved rates of First Nations people staying for assessment and treatment, as well as an increase of patients feeling safe enough to identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander when presented to the ED.”

Ms Payne is a Yuwaalaraay woman who will work with members of Ballarat’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and allies.

“We want to be building trust and strong relationships as part of the core of the project,” she said.

“Building a research team of Aboriginal researchers and strong allies, with support from experienced Aboriginal researchers will ensure that the project meets the objectives we’ve set out for Ballarat’s ED.

“We’re excited to see what this pilot project in Ballarat can do for the health and wellbeing of First Nations people in Ballarat and surrounds.”