Homelessness Conflict And Safety Outcomes - 1561 Words

Homelessness Conflict and Safety Outcomes As the population of the United States continues to become more diverse, healthcare providers should eï ¬â‚¬ectively communicate with each patient regardless of their culture, nationality, religion or socioeconomic status. Nurses and other providers should be delivering patient centered care that is culturally competent. â€Å"Culture also includes the integrated pattern of thoughts, communications, actions, customs, beliefs, values, and institutions associated, wholly or partially, with racial, ethnic, or linguistic groups, as well as with religious, spiritual, biological, geographical, or sociological characteristics† (Lamb, 2014, p. 132). Nurses are caring for a wide variety of culturally diverse†¦show more content†¦The homeless are frequently look down upon and their need for medical care is minimized. This is especially apparent when the homeless show up in the Emergency Department (ED) seeking care for a medical issue. The homeless population is often misunderstood and stigmatized because they are more likely to seek care in the emergency room, rather than in a primary care doctor’s office. The medical staff in the emergency room may minimize the needs of the patient, discharge them prematurely, or not investigate what is really wrong with them. Stereotyping the homeless as being an alcoholic, chronically mentally ill, drug seeking, frequent flyers and in need of social services limits the health care services provided to the patient. By Limiting their access to care, the ED staff and providers may overlook an acute need which puts the health of these patients in jeopardy. This stigmatism also adversely affects the quality of care that these patients receive. Furthermore, homeless people are often uninsured and face significant barriers to accessing health care. Competing demands for shelter, food and safety supersede the need to obtain primary medical care (Ku, Scott, Kertesz Pitts, 2010, p. 399) As a result, homeless individuals will often use the emergency room for routine, non-emergent needs. Homeless individuals are three times more likely to