No abstract

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) people experience challenges when accessing health care from the emergency department (ED). The aim of this project was to identify the perceived barriers and enablers to accessing health care at one Victorian Emergency Department for the local ATSI community. This qualitative explorative study collected data using focus groups or yarns to investigate the perceptions of the ATSI community presentations to the ED. Data were analysed following the standards of qualitative data analysis procedure. Three themes emerged organisational process, staff interactions and strategies for improvement. Information from this study will assist hospital and ED executives and practitioners to collaborate with the ATSI community in developing and implementing policy and practice changes that enable Aboriginal patients to be identified and receive culturally appropriate care.

Although the U.S. population continues to become more diverse, black, Hispanic, and Native American doctors remain underrepresented in emergency medicine (EM). The benefits of a diverse medical workforce have been well described, but the percentage of EM residents from underrepresented groups is small and has not significantly increased over the past 20 years. A group of experts in the field of diversity and inclusion convened a work group during the Council of Emergency Medicine Residency Program Directors (CORD) and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) national meetings. The objective of the discussion was to develop strategies to help EM residency programs examine and improve racial and ethnic diversity in their institutions. Specific recommendations included strategies to recruit racially and ethnically diverse residency candidates and strategies to mentor, develop, retain, and promote minority faculty.