Pregnant patients should feel empowered to have the birth experience that’s right for his or her family and reflects their culture. On this episode of Off the Charts podcast, we talk with LeeAnn Hubbard, MD, the medical director of the Regions Hospital Family Birth Center.
We discuss how the birth center puts health equity on the forefront of its care, the importance of health equity during labor and delivery, and the partnership between families and their care teams. Hearken to the episode or read the transcript.
How the Regions Hospital Family Birth Center is working to construct trust with patients
Over time, the birth center at Regions Hospital has modified its approach to supporting patients of all communities and cultures. With the intention to construct trust with the patient populations they serve, the team at Regions has put more effort into outreach, improved scheduling and broadened patient communication.
They’ve connected with the patient groups that they serve and listened to their must make all the experience easier – from prenatal visits through post-partum care. And the larger give attention to communication has helped with patient education and connection.
Now, the team at Regions has shifted their perspective to fulfill patients where they’re with the intention to help give everyone what they need. Whether a patient is available in with questions on family planning and contraception or they’re unsure when to schedule their first appointment, the care team is willing to guide them and communicate with them.
Why trust is a crucial a part of health care
Dr. Hubbard believes that health equity and trust are foundational relating to practicing medicine. To her, it relates back to the doctor’s oath to “do no harm.” Without trust, it’s unattainable to have the form of relationship with a patient that’s needed with the intention to offer them quality, timely care. And care goes beyond just offering therapeutic treatments – it includes caring for all the patient holistically.
Constructing trust may be as straightforward as speaking the identical language
One among the ways in which the team at Regions Hospital is working to construct trust with the patients they serve is by offering care services in multiple languages. Pregnancy, labor and delivery could be a difficult transition for any patient, especially if there may be a language barrier.
Recently, Regions began working with On a regular basis Miracles, an area group that gives prenatal classes and doula support in multiple languages. This makes it possible for families from a big selection of cultural backgrounds to get the care and support they need of their primary language.
Meeting families where they’re
Regions Hospital also partners with multiple organizations to assist patients of various cultures. D.I.V.A. (Dynamic Involved Valued African American) Mothers is a company in St. Paul, Minnesota, that helps Black patients navigate pregnancy. The organization helps Black families feel more comfortable with the labor and delivery process and ensures that they’re welcomed and cared for while on the birth center.
Regions also works with the Hmong Medical Coalition with the intention to learn more concerning the cultural needs of Hmong patients. By working together and learning from one another, the team at Regions works hard to be certain that each patient’s cultural needs are met.
Hearken to the episode to learn more about how the Regions Hospital Birth Center is working to advertise trust and health equity.