Advancing Anti-Racist and Equity-Oriented Care in the Emergency Department with First Nations Partners
Advancing Anti-Racist and Equity-Oriented Care in the Emergency Department with First Nations Partners
Embedded Files
Emergency care settings are a primary location where racism against First Nations (FN) persons is reported within the healthcare system. In this project, we will work with First Nations organizations and three emergency departments to improve emergency care. We aim to improve patient outcomes and experiences by
(1) building and strengthening partnerships between FN organizations and EDs; (2) training ED staff in anti-racism and equity-oriented care; (3) making structural changes to department policies and processes to support ED providers to offer equity-oriented care and to address barriers to follow up care; (4) collaboratively documenting and advocating around health systems issues that impact FN members’ emergency care, but that are outside ED control.
Building direct relationships between ED leaders and leaders of FN organizations will help in identifying the challenges FN patients encounter and ensure these issues remain a top priority for ED leaders. By creating information resources, communication tools, standardized care procedures, and by establishing links between EDs and other services, we aim to empower ED providers to deliver the optimal level of care they aspire to provide. Through this approach, we hope to enhance patient experience and contribute to improved patient health outcomes.
Project Start: 2022
Project Start: 2022
Project Status: Active
Project Status: Active
Funders:
Funders:
Partners
Partners
All partners, co-investigators, Elder Advisors, and knowledge users are involved in developing the intervention, guiding all project activities and co-interpreting data. Through our collaborative partnership, we aim to bring tangible benefits to all involved by purposefully emphasizing mutual trust, Indigenous ways of knowing, and the strengths of Indigenous communities. This partnership will help Western healthcare leaders and researchers to enhance their capabilities to work respectfully in support of Indigenous self-determination and sovereignty in the healthcare.
CIHR funded Project Team
CIHR funded Project Team
Patrick McLane, University of Alberta, Acute Care Alberta
Lea Bill, Alberta First Nations Information Governance Centre
Esther Tailfeathers, Kainai Physician
Sherri Kashuba, Acute Care Alberta
Cheryl Barnabe, University of Calgary, Cumming School of Medicine
Reagan Bartel, Otipemisiwak Métis Government of the Métis Nation within Alberta
Tessy Big Plume, Stoney Nakoda Tsuut'ina Tribal Council
Rita Henderson, University of Calgary, Cumming School of Medicine
Brian Holroyd, Alberta Health Services, Emergency Strategic Clinical Network
Ashton James, Otipemisiwak Métis Government of the Métis Nation within Alberta
Jaspreet Khangura, University of Alberta, Department of Emergency Medicine
Eddy Lang, Alberta Health Services, Emergency Strategic Clinical Network
Eunice Louis, Maskwacis Health Services
Richard Oster, Primary Care Alberta, Indigenous Wellness Core
Katherine Rittenbach, University of Calgary
Pamela Roach, University of Calgary, Cumming School of Medicine
Joanna Gladue, Alberta Health Services, Indigenous Wellness Core (formerly)
Jamie Harmon, Primary Care Alberta, Indigenous Wellness Core
Bonnie Healy, Blackfoot Confederacy Tribal Council (formerly)
Marty Landrie, Alberta Health Services (formerly)
Kienan Williams, Alberta Health Services
Anne Bird, Paul Band First Nation Health
Kris Janvier, Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council
KT/Publications/Links
KT/Publications/Links
An Rx against racist behaviour in Alberta emergency departments
An Rx against racist behaviour in Alberta emergency departments
After years of studying systemic racism in hospital emergency care, a team of researchers and First Nations organizations will create ways to ensure all patients are treated equitably and with dignity.
Read full article here.
Interventions to improve equity in emergency departments forIndigenous people: A scoping review
Interventions to improve equity in emergency departments forIndigenous people: A scoping review
MacLean D, Curtin KD, Barnabe C, et al. Interventions to improve equity in emergency departments for Indigenous people: A scoping review. Acad Emerg Med. 2025; 32: 6-19. doi:10.1111/acem.14987
Read full article here.
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