One of the goals of healthcare provision is to deliver equitable care to all groups of people. However, there are health disparities that leave some communities underserved. Such disparities exist among populations that are discriminated against on the basis of race, sexual orientation, geographic location, ethnicity, and income. Consequently, these groups of people record higher morbidity rates, lower life expectancy, and lower quality of life. Healthcare professionals must collaborate to reduce health inequalities in underserved communities.
Collaboration among professionals in the healthcare industry can help provide equitable care. Experts in different fields come together to serve a given community. For instance, a comprehensive team comprising social workers, physicians, nurses, and counselors may work as a unit to provide care to a community (Goldsberry, 2018). This is advantageous to the community because it increases their access to healthcare. The population will be able to receive care that was previously unavailable to them. They will no longer be denied care by virtue of their socioeconomic status.
Another advantage of inter-professional collaboration is that it recognizes the need for different professionals to solve complex issues. Since such a team comprises experts in different fields of healthcare, they bring unique inputs in approaching the issues affecting a given community (Goldsberry, 2018). For instance, helping teenagers with same-sex orientation overcome health barriers may require the input of an advanced practice nurse, health sociologist, and other caregivers. These efforts ensure that the community being served receives the help that caters to their particular needs. Inter-professional collaboration facilitates the provision of holistic treatment to underserved populations. Therefore, advanced practice nurses can reduce healthcare disparities in these communities by working with other professionals to create inclusive health promotion programs.
Reference
Goldsberry, J. W. (2018). Advanced practice nurses leading the way: Interprofessional collaboration. Nurse Education Today, 65, 1-3. Web.