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Black Health Navigator Bridges London Healthcare Gaps
9 Feb
Summary
- A Black health navigator guides Black patients through London's healthcare system.
- Patients reported feeling unheard regarding pain management and treatment plans.
- The navigator role aims to improve trust and patient advocacy within hospitals.
London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) has implemented a Black health navigator role to address systemic barriers faced by Black patients. Suishanie Brooks, a practical nurse originally from Jamaica, serves as the navigator, guiding patients through the hospital system and bridging cultural and language divides. This initiative directly responds to feedback from Black residents who reported issues with pain management, feeling unheard in care plan creation, and experiencing a lack of cultural humility.
Cathy Wood, LHSC's Black health lead, emphasized that these negative experiences can deter patients from seeking care and reduce adherence to treatment. The navigator position was created to ensure patients' voices are heard in the fast-paced hospital environment. While work remains to improve services for sickle cell patients and mental health care, the presence of a navigator who looks like them has already provided a significant sigh of relief for many patients.
