How can HIT best engage diverse patient populations?

1 Cultural competence

One of the key aspects of engaging diverse patient populations is cultural competence, which refers to the ability of healthcare providers and organizations to understand and respect the cultural values, beliefs, and practices of their patients. HIT can support cultural competence by providing tools and resources that enable providers to communicate effectively with patients from different backgrounds, languages, and literacy levels. For example, HIT can offer translation services, health education materials, and decision aids that are culturally appropriate and tailored to the patient's needs.

2 Patient-centered design

Another important factor for engaging diverse patient populations is patient-centered design, which involves involving patients and their families in the development, implementation, and evaluation of HIT solutions. Patient-centered design can help ensure that HIT meets the expectations, preferences, and goals of the patients, and that it is easy to use, accessible, and relevant. For example, HIT can use participatory methods, such as focus groups, surveys, interviews, and usability testing, to solicit feedback and input from patients of different ages, genders, ethnicities, and abilities.

3 Social determinants of health

A third aspect of engaging diverse patient populations is addressing the social determinants of health, which are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age that affect their health outcomes. HIT can help identify and address the social determinants of health by collecting and analyzing data on the social, economic, and environmental factors that influence the health of different patient groups. For example, HIT can use geographic information systems, electronic health records, and mobile applications to monitor and intervene on issues such as access to care, transportation, housing, food security, and education.

4 Health equity and justice

A fourth aspect of engaging diverse patient populations is promoting health equity and justice, which means ensuring that all people have the opportunity to achieve optimal health and well-being, regardless of their social or economic status, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. HIT can support health equity and justice by reducing the gaps and disparities in health outcomes and access to care among different patient groups. For example, HIT can use artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data to identify and address the sources and impacts of bias, discrimination, and stigma in healthcare delivery.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?