Homework: Healthcare Services Discussion

According to Ritter (2017) due to treaties, the federal government provides healthcare services to federally recognized tribes throughout the Indian Health Service (HIS). These services are available to around 2 million American Indians and Alaska natives. The majority of those who receive HIS services live in rural settings generally in the western part of the United States. Due to their often remote location, these populations have poor health and limited health care. It would be prudent to inquire about the date of their last medical visit and if they attend yearly doctor or dentist appointments. If they do not get regular medical check-ups, it may be difficult for them to adhere to daily lifestyle or medication regimens prescribed by their provider.

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The family is a crucial component of the Native American’s life. Therefore, it is important to include them in the discussion with the patient. A supportive family will assist the patient in a speedy recovery. Elders specifically are held in high regard and should be shown the utmost respect. Elders are sometimes skeptical of modern medicine and the treatments used. Patiently teaching and giving them time to respond will be beneficial to their education.

In regard to birth, Native Americans believe the birth needs to be private, out of the men’s sight. As the child grows, they are typically indulged rather than punished, because children are considered to be closely connected to the spiritual realm. Knowing this, it would be prudent to speak with Native American children and their parents clearly, yet gently.

Native Americans have a diet typical of the general population of the United States. The same can be said of the sedentary lifestyle as well. Originally Native Americans relied on meat, fish, berries, and nuts, and had an active lifestyle of hunting and farming.

Mental health disorders affect Native Americans at rates similar to the overall population. Depression and anxiety are the most significant mental health issues (Ritter, 2017). However, alcohol abuse disproportionately affects Native Americans compared to the population of the United States (Dickerson et al., 2020). When admitting a patient, it would be wise to assess the alcohol intake and to educate the patient on the effects of alcohol on the body. If the patient were a daily drinker and suddenly stopped drinking, he may have a seizure that could kill him. Safely detoxing from alcohol would be the goal.

Being in harmony with nature, themselves, others, and the Creator is a common belief among many Native Americans. Disobedience to religious codes is believed to have consequences such as physical or mental illness, disability, or bad luck. To get rid of this illness, a shaman is needed to restore health. Shamans may have some medical understanding of burns and cleaning wounds. If a patient is requesting his shaman, it is important to allow the visit and respect his belief. Praying and religious ceremonies are believed to rid the person of illness and may assist the patient to recovery. Native American healers use herbs to cleanse and bring balance to unhealthy people. It is necessary to know what herbs the patient has been using prior to arriving at the hospital. Some herbs will interact with common medications that treat hypertension, circulatory issues, and heart failure (Pruthi et al., 2020).

Discussion # 2

Culturally Competent Healthcare for Native Americans

Culturally competent care is accepting and giving compassionate health services. Health care service is provided to patients from all backgrounds and cultures. There is equal distribution of care under social classes. Cultural competence is vital. It delivers high-quality services. Culturally competent care despises discrimination of cultures. It satisfies all patient’s needs. Also, it has limited the frustration of both patients and healthcare workers.

Strategies recommended for encouraging culturally competent care of Native America.

Healthcare Workers Information

Caregivers should be given complete information on several aspects. For instance, social factors influence people’s beliefs and behaviors. They should be give the tools needed to serve multi-racial patient societies. Patients’ participation is required. They should be free to interact with healthcare workers; participate in training offered and case study reviews. Healthcare workers must also be assessed occasionally (Handtke et al., 2019). Their achievement rates are tracked from fulfillment scores given by patients. Health caregivers who have good performance are motivated. They continue to offer their best services to achieve good results.

Patient-centered Care

Patient-centered care and a good service environment are other strategies. A good environment aims at increased healthcare outcomes. This is achieved in many ways; patients are empowered to participate in health decision-making procedures. Caregivers enhance the acceptability of healthcare, by limiting skepticism and increasing trust. Patient-centered healthcare covers patients’ respect. It entails sociocultural competence. Caregivers and patients are allowed to share knowledge. Lastly, the strategy considers collaborative communication. Hence, encouraging culturally competent care.

Cross-cultural interactions

Cultural interactions and connections are considered. Caregivers interact with patients from diverse backgrounds. They connect and interact about their cultures. They get to recognize different concepts among people. Understand their ethnicities and cultural differences. Cross-cultural interactions result in good communication. It reduces language barriers and communication disparities. As a result, there are diminished medical errors. Thus, it is recommended to encourage culturally competent care. Homework: Healthcare Services Discussion

Promoting Minorities.

It is another way of improving culturally competent care. Recruiting staff hires and promotes ethnic minority caregivers. They become potential healthcare workers. It makes it easy to attend to the patients from their cultures. Ethnic minorities can communicate fluently in their respective languages (Goodkind et al.,2015). Therefore, the struggle to speak the English language to natives is reduced. As a result, there is improved healthcare delivery. The ethnic gap, which Health Department recognizes, has enhanced cultural and attitudes understanding.

Patients Education

The health department should provide health education materials to patients. Forms to be issued too in their native language. Enhancing easy patient literacy. Health caregivers are able to get accurate information. The caregiver can quickly identify the disease a patient is suffering from. Making it easy for them to prescribe specific medication. The patients can get treatment quickly. Thus, fastening the healing process. The strategy is recommended as it gives good Homework: Healthcare Services Discussion

Homework: Healthcare Services Discussion