Describe the value of knowing the community demographics being served

Community Demographics

• Community demographics are continually changing but understanding the 'community of patients' allows providers to better communicate throughout all phases of care.
• By 2050, today’s minorities will become the majority in the United States.
• One million immigrants enter the United States coming from every continent, their ability to speak and understand English varies from minimal to fully fluent.
• Five generations now currently interact in the workplace. These generations have different cultural frameworks, communications skills and work styles.
• Under-represented groups form almost 34% of the total US population, yet the healthcare workforce has not kept up with these changing demographics, For example physicians from under-represented groups make up only about 7% of the current workforce, nurses 3% and pharmacists 3%. This creates the potential for significant communication and cultural barriers.
• Changing family demographics are also influencing the patient population experience in healthcare settings from ethnically or racial mixed and same-sex couples, to stay-at-home dads and grandparents as caregivers.

Value of Knowing Community Demographics

• Understanding cultural differences will improve communication and impact patient experience.
• Providers can staff or create a culture around community demographics (i.e. greater Hispanic population may warrant increased staffing to match demographic).
• Understanding technological differences in the community allow providers to adapt communication methods (i.e. does not make sense to use web-based tools in a community that is not skilled in this realm).
• Understanding Socio-Economic demographics in the community will aid providers with in-hospital and post admission care.
• Increased patient satisfaction will develop community around care facilities.