Inside Look into the UDN University of Miami UDN Clinical Site

By Joanna Gonzalez | February 1, 2022

The University of Miami UDN clinical site is located in Miami Dade County, which is the seventh-largest county in the nation. It is one of the counties in the United States that is considered “minority-majority”, in that the population in our community is made up of 69.4 % Hispanic or Latino origin according to the 2020 US Census Bureau. At the University of Miami UDN clinical site, we understand the importance of culture, diversity, and the language barriers that exist within the Spanish-speaking community.
 

We recognize and acknowledge that all our patients participating in the UDN are on a journey to find a diagnosis for themselves or their families. Some of these journeys include many specialist visits, testing, imaging and now participation in research through the UDN. We also acknowledge that there are added adversities of being someone who speaks Spanish. It is known that patients of Spanish-speaking origin have additional barriers that may lead to inequities in healthcare. Language barriers can lead to miscommunications between health care providers and patients and thus can reduce patient satisfaction and potentially decrease the quality of care.

At the University of Miami UDN clinical site, we strive for optimal communication and culturally appropriate care for our participants. When an onsite interpreter is not available, utilizing technology such as interpreter services has allowed for us to bridge those gaps and make better connections with our participants. The University of Miami School of Nursing also notes that healthcare scientists who are of the same race or ethnicity as their study populations have an advantage in terms of engaging research participants. Research bears out that cultural competence on the part of the caregiver positively impacts patient outcomes. We acknowledge this statement and have thus built our team on the premise of diversity and inclusivity. As a clinical site we also understand that feedback from all of our participants is crucial for successful encounters and future visits. We wish to connect further with Spanish-speaking participants and hear of better ways of connecting and understanding their struggles. As Spanish-speaking participants and families go through their diagnostic journey, we believe that we can work on to become better.

We would like to thank the UDN PEER community and our participants for allowing us to be a part of their journey. We hope that in acknowledging disparities, cultural differences, and their stories as Spanish speakers, we can learn and grow as health care providers in order to provide the best culturally and appropriate care for all.