Fairfield Hospital serves a diverse community with a large number of migrant farm workers. Dr. Robyn Joseph, a nurse practitioner on staff at the hospital, just completed a study of a local group of farm workers which concluded that most of the workers avoid going to the hospital and its clinics for care because of fear that they or their family members will be identified and arrested by immigration and customs enforcement officers (ICE), even if the individual is in the country legally. There have been recent outbreaks of preventable, communicable diseases and at least one child has died of measles.
Fairfield Hospital has an Executive Council comprised of the lead administrators of every unit as well as representatives from doctors, nurses, other health professionals and administrative and ancillary staff. Dr. Joseph asks the executive council to discuss ways that Fairfield Hospital could engage the community with its services.
How can health care institutions foster trust despite social forces that undermine trust?
Resources:
National Immigration Law Center - Health Care Providers and Immigration Enforcement
Schweikart, SJ (2018) Case and Commentary: Should Immigration Status Information be considered Protected Patient Information. AMA Journal of Ethics. 21:1. E32-E37.
The healthcare institution can foster trust in the following way
The immigration status information is not a must to be documented in the health records in order to avoid discrimination and legal issues from the National Immigration Law Center which can create a sense of anxiety in the patient.
Fairfield Hospital serves a diverse community with a large number of migrant farm workers. Dr. Robyn...
Fairfield Hospital serves a diverse community with a large number of migrant farm workers. Dr. Robyn Joseph, a nurse practitioner on staff at the hospital, just completed a study of a local group of farm workers which concluded that most of the workers avoid going to the hospital and its clinics for care because of fear that they or their family members will be identified and arrested by immigration and customs enforcement officers (ICE), even if the individual is in...
Fairfield Hospital serves a diverse community with a large number of migrant farm workers. Dr. Robyn Joseph, a nurse practitioner on staff at the hospital, just completed a study of a local group of farm workers which concluded that most of the workers avoid going to the hospital and its clinics for care because of fear that they or their family members will be identified and arrested by immigration and customs enforcement officers (ICE), even if the individual is in...
Fairfield Hospital serves a diverse community with a large number of migrant farm workers. Dr. Robyn Joseph, a nurse practitioner on staff at the hospital, just completed a study of a local group of farm workers which concluded that most of the workers avoid going to the hospital and its clinics for care because of fear that they or their family members will be identified and arrested by immigration and customs enforcement officers (ICE), even if the individual is in...