Equality and health orientation in health services

Priority issue for SALAR 2013

Marianne Granath och Hanna Wallin

2 Jgr

A learning project –Care on equal conditions

7th Nordic Research Conference in Health Promotion

Why?

Medical care services do not reach all of the population equitably.

Socio-economic

Ethnicity

Gender

and many other reasons

Making equal = to differentiate

Background of the project

Purpose

- To identify and develop methods for achieving equitable care

Important

- The project covers all aspects of health and medical care – from reception, accessibility, treatment and cohesive care processes to management and governance.

Project frame

An agreement between SALAR and the Swedish government

- Duration of 3 years (2011-2014)

- Tot. 11 million SEK

- 8 participating primary care units

- Method is based on Breakthrough Series

- Ending with a National conference 21st of March 2014

Project target areas

Project target areas

1) Access for groups that are not reached by health and medical services today and are at particular risk of ill health,

2) Communication skills in health services

3) Access to health promotion and preventive health efforts and

4) Patient satisfaction.

Initial work/results

Approaches to be tested and evaluated during 2013 include:

Walk-in primary care services for those who have difficulties booking over the phone

Health promotion efforts which are needs-based for the local population

Make primary care professionals/employees conscious of their norms and values in order to improve their communication skills in the patient encounter.

Challenges in providing equality and patient safety:

Access to interpreters at all patient meetings – a funding issue

Continuity in primary care services contacts – shortage of general practice specialists

Cultural competence among employees and language diversity among patients

Challenges

To involve the whole organization

Lack of time, lack of resources

Sustainibility over time

Willingness to develop and change routines

High level of engagement

Contact

Sveriges Kommuner och Landsting (SALAR)Hanna Wallinhanna.wallin@skl.seMarianne Granathmarianne.granath@skl.seTherese Löfqvisttherese.lofqvist@skl.se