WEC

1. WEC A multidisciplinary Working Group on Ethnicity and Communication in the Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam, the Netherlands • Aim: • To improve communication with ‘ethnic’ patients • To create awareness on ethnic and cultural diversity • To improve health care providers knowledge on ethnic and cultural differences • Method: • A multidisciplinary Working Group on Ethnicity and Communication was installed. Members promote a multi-ethnical approach of the care process. • They provide information, education and advice to health care departments and providers in the AMC. • They put the subject on the agenda of caregivers within and out of the AMC. • Results: • The WEC provided support to the development, implementation and evaluation of; • patient information on the internet • Interpreter services • Food and dietary guidelines • A multi-ethnic praying room • Symposia about ethnicity, communication and health • Participating in the European initiative ‘Migrant-Friendly Hospitals’ which is aimed at the development of models of good practice concerning ethnicity and quality of care. Conclusion: Increasing ethnic and cultural diversity of the population constitutes a challenge to the AMC. Initiatives such as the installation of the WEC may improve communication with ethnic patients and create more awareness concerning the varying needs and expectations of patients with different ethnic backgrounds. As a result, overall service quality and patient orientation may improve also. Hanneke Dammer (j.w.hartog@amc.uva.nl), Sjaak Molenaar (j.molenaar@amc.uva.nl) Academic Medical Center by the University of Amsterdam, Box 22660, 1100 DD Amsterdam, The Netherlands