The Power of Storytelling: Engaging Palliative Care Teams in Health Equity

Sharing patient stories has been a proven strategy for palliative care teams to "make the case” for their services. Recognizing the power of these stories, the Pediatric Palliative Care Team at Seattle Children’s Hospital decided to leverage this strategy to improve health equity at its institution. Team members decided to embed equity conversations into their practice by 1) starting daily rounds reviewing patient cases and intentionally acknowledging how equity intersects in the care delivery, and 2) including a longer discussion on equity and access issues (usually with a case study) into their monthly interdisciplinary meetings. They also collaborate with the institution’s Center for Diversity and Health Equity, and the Cultural Navigation and Interpreter Services programs.