. Demonstrate respect for individual diversity including a.gender b. race c. religion d. age e. economic status f.appearance
Given the conditions and provided the appropriate scenario, thestudent will demonstrate respect for individual diversity includinggender, race, religion, age, economic status, appearance. This maybe done as a homework assignment.
Patient scenario: A medical assistant calls in her patient, anAfrican American transgendered woman (in her late 40s) to take apatient’s history, blood pressure, weight, and other vitals beforeshe sees the physician. The assumption is that she is ofmiddle-class economic status.
The medical assistant notes in her history that she is in theprocess of transitioning from male to female and questions thepatient’s religious beliefs in relation to her decisions. Thepatient becomes agitated and expresses to the medical assistantthat this is none of her business. The patient replies that she ishere only for her annual physical.
The medical assistant proceeds with preparing the patient forthe physician. The medical assistant notes the woman has extremelylong, thick hair in a style known as locks. As the patient standson the scale, the medical assistant asks her how much she believesshe would weigh without her hair. The patient is rather surprisedand responds by stating that she doesn’t understand the question.She looks at the medical assistant, who has short blonde hair, andasks, “Do you mean if my hair was short? I don’t understand yourquestion.” “No, the medical assistant replies, “I mean if youremove your hair.” The patient became quite offended because herhair is her own and cannot be removed. She tells the medicalassistant that her question was inappropriate and inaccurate andasks if she could just record her weight and move on to the bloodpressure.
The medical assistant looks at her with trepidation, stillsuspicious about her hair, and asks the patient to roll up hersleeves, so she can apply the blood pressure cuff. The patient isvisibly offended, based on her expression, but receives no apologyfrom the assistant. After completing the blood pressure check, themedical assistant tells the patient her blood pressure is veryhigh. “You may want to consider cutting out the soul food.” Thepatient replies curtly, “I am a vegetarian, and I don’t eat soulfood.” The medical assistant leaves curtly, indicating that thedoctor will be right in to proceed with the exam. The patientseriously considers leaving as she waits for the doctor because shehas been so offended.
Instructions: Based upon your recent research for your culturaldiversity project, answer in full the following questions.
1) Analyze and explain the biases in this scenario thatinterfere with patient care? Include gender, race, religion, age,economic status, and appearance—all 6 factors must be analyzed anddiscussed.
2) If you were the office manager or physician, evaluate thismedical assistant against a “code of conduct.” Create an officepolicy statement to guide cultural sensitivity training of allstaff to ensure the quality of care. The policy statement should beat least six paragraphs of methods and affective behaviors thatshould be exhibited by all staff as it applies to this case studyand your research.
