Journal of Healthcare Administration AND POLICY

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study is to examine strategies for improving healthcare outcomes and experiences for LGBTQ+ patients within a healthcare clinic in southern Connecticut. Access to appropriate health care often leads to insufficient health outcomes for LGBTQ+ individuals. Assessing the effectiveness of surveying LGBTQ+ patients at this health clinic, so that changes can be made to make it more welcoming for those who identify as LGBTQ+. Health care providers at this clinic will receive a training video on LGBTQ+ healthcare inclusion as part of this small-scale study. Health education and sensitivity training are essential to improving the experiences of LGBTQ patients and their outcomes. To overcome the healthcare disparities facing this population, it is necessary to advocate for indiscriminate, equitable health care for LGBTQ individuals. (Moran, 2021) These initiatives are to establish better relationships between LGBTQ+ identifying patients and providers at the clinic. The LGBTQ community suffers from higher rates of anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and suicide than heterosexual peers. In the absence of timely medical treatment, patients experience feelings of distrust and discrimination from healthcare providers. There is a clear need for quality improvement as heterosexual and LGBTQ people receive distinct types of health care and experience healthcare providers differently. (Moran, 2021) By combining small-scale research with community empowerment, this study aims to reduce health disparities faced by LGBTQ+ people in Southern Connecticut. Clinical staff at this clinic can ensure LGBTQ+ patients feel valued and supported by creating an inclusive, respectful, and understanding environment. An initiative-taking approach to health management, such as empowering LGBTQ+ communities to conduct self-examinations, can contribute to overall well-being. Lack of education on LGBTQ health and a culture of heteronormativity seem to be responsible for many issues of inadequate care. There is a need for further research on interventions that could facilitate the disclosure of sexual orientation and change heteronormative assumptions held by staff. The inclusion of LGBTQ issues in nursing and midwifery education or continuing professional development is recommended. (Stewart, et al., 2017) As part of the ongoing conversation on healthcare equity, this study emphasizes the importance of collaboration between healthcare providers and LGBTQ+ communities to achieve optimal health outcomes.

ABSTRACT This study investigates the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation on healthcare revenue cycle operations. The primary objective is to assess whether these technologies can enhance workflow efficiency for providers and revenue cycle teams while maintaining patient care as the top priority. Through a targeted survey of healthcare professionals, the research explored perceptions and expectations regarding AI and automation in various revenue cycle functions. The study focused on key areas, including administrative burden reduction, operational efficiency, financial performance, and effects on patient experience. The findings suggest a strong interest in automation, particularly in areas such as prior authorization. However, the results indicate varying opinions on which specific functions would benefit most from these technologies. The study reveals both enthusiasm for the potential of AI and automation to streamline processes and some uncertainty about their full implications. While limited by sample size and time constraints, this research provides valuable insights into the current landscape of AI and automation in healthcare revenue cycle management. It highlights the need for further investigation into implementation strategies that balance operational efficiency with quality patient care. The study concludes that while adoption is still early, AI and automation can transform revenue cycle management, improve efficiency, reduce administrative burdens, and allow healthcare providers to focus more on patient care. However, successful implementation will require careful consideration of ethical implications, data privacy concerns, and the need for robust governance frameworks.

Improving African American Maternal Health Abstract Background: The maternal health of African American mothers in the United States is in crisis, with a long history of racial disparities as a major contributing factor. African American mothers are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications compared to their white counterparts and women from all other ethnic categories. In 2022, the maternal mortality rate for African American women was 49.5 deaths per 100,000 live births compared to 19 deaths per 100,00 live births for Caucasian women. Despite overall improvements in maternal health outcomes, African American mothers continue to experience inadequate prenatal care, continuous stress, and poor socioeconomic conditions. These challenges are a direct result of systemic barriers leading to adverse maternal and birth outcomes. Main objective: To describe the social determinants contributing to the poor maternal health outcome for African American mothers. Methods: A novel qualitative study surveyed 21 African American mothers at a maternal health facility, exploring their maternal health journeys and attempting to understand the link between their experiences and poor maternal health outcomes. Key findings: (1) Lack of confidence in prenatal care; (2) Lack of communication; (3) Reservation participating in research due to historic cultural mistrust; (4) Lack of confidence in medical team. Conclusion The findings underscore the need for additional research with a larger participant pool to further explore the impact on maternal health. To address this crisis, it is imperative that future research incorporates the lived experiences and personal stories of African American mothers to inform more effective interventions and improve outcomes.

ABSTRACT In Healthcare, high turnover rates are at an all-time high, and the main reason is workforce morale. Healthcare administrators must possess many skillsets or coaching skills when keeping a workforce motivated, happy and inspired. Morale is an excellent tool to evaluate and gauge the success of your organization. There is a saying that states a happy wife is satisfied in life. People have concluded that your marriage will succeed when your wife is happy. This saying originated from a 1908 and 1903 poem entitled "The Work and Wages Party." The irony of work and wages is mentioned in the poem. Thus, it coincides with the workers; the wife is the worker, and the husband is the company's leader. Being a leader is a great responsibility... In Healthcare, the CEO and other higher-tier- management figures are responsible for leading companies to be successful. Evaluating worker satisfaction has been a challenge in the industry to determine better if workers are pleased has been a challenge, especially for rapid workers. Although many underpaid employees love what they do, there is a higher possibility that they will be less satisfied with the organization. Their whole industry would be scrambling to hire subordinates to employ. Leaders must find the aspects (qualities) that create a "culture” that cultivates a culture of respect with respectful management and transparency. As a result, staff members feel safe talking about disrespectful behavior without fear of reprisal" (Grissinger,2017). To achieve these goals of addressing morale, leaders must use resources such as questionnaires that will be used to help understand the two agencies. One will be used for Medicaid Case Managers of the insurance company, and the other for nursing home staff.

Abstract This research investigates the impact of enhanced communication between Latinx-speaking patients and their healthcare providers on overall patient satisfaction and observed quality of care. To identify obstacles to communication and evaluate their impact on healthcare experiences, a survey to Latinx-speaking patients in General Pediatrics and Pediatric Specialty offices was created and distributed to appropriate patients. To achieve these objectives, our methodology involved developing a survey with 7-10 questions rated on a scale from 1 to 5, to collect data on the experiences of Latinx-speaking patients. To guarantee accurate communication, the survey was administered by staff members who are native speakers of Latinx. Predetermined criteria, such as the need for interpretation services from native Latinx speakers, was used to choose the participants. The sample was represented of all genders to increase the accuracy of the findings. Surveys were conducted in a controlled setting, and researchers who spoke Latinx were on hand to answer queries and handle concerns for participants to ensure accuracy. The results demonstrate how crucial bilingual employees and efficient communication are to raising patient satisfaction, building trust, and achieving better health outcomes. This study emphasizes how important it is to remove linguistic barriers to advance equity in the delivery of healthcare. To build trust and ensure that patients are aware of their diagnosis, available treatments, and care plans, effective communication is essential. Language barriers can cause miscommunication, decreased adherence to treatment plans, and overall unhappiness with the healthcare experience for Latinx-speaking patients. By offering specific evidence on the advantages of multilingual communication in healthcare settings, this study aims to close this gap.