Telemedicine, Cultural Competency, and Job Retention in Healthcare

04/26/23 • 32 min

"I would like to see more effort being put into job creation for retaining local talent. Iowa is great at attracting the best from all over the world, but I cannot see the same for retaining them." - Onyeche Oche

Join host Caleb as he talks with Onyeche Oche, a healthcare researcher and advocate, about her work in telemedicine, cultural competency in healthcare, and her vision for job retention in the Iowa City area. They discuss the challenges and benefits of telemedicine, especially for older adults, and how to make healthcare more inclusive and accessible for all.

About the Guest: Onyeche Oche is a healthcare researcher and advocate with a focus on telemedicine and cultural competency. She is passionate about giving older adults a voice in healthcare research and creating sustainable solutions for diverse communities. Onyeche is committed to making Iowa City a more inclusive and accessible place for all.

You will learn about:

The importance of cultural competency in healthcare and how it impacts patient outcomes.
Onyeche's work and research in telemedicine, especially for older adults, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The perspectives of different stakeholders, including older adults, physicians, caregivers, and medical assistants, on the barriers and facilitators of telemedicine.
The potential future of telemedicine and its role in different scenarios, individual preferences, and accessibility.
Onyeche's vision for job creation and retaining local talent in Iowa City, addressing the challenges of attracting and keeping skilled individuals in the area.
The significance of community-based participatory research in multicultural cities like Iowa and the need for collaborative solutions to address diverse communities' healthcare issues.

Show Notes:

00:00 - Introduction to My City My Health Podcast and guest Onyeche Oche
02:14 - Onyeche's background and current work in healthcare research
04:25 - The importance of cultural competency in healthcare
10:12 - The role of telemedicine during the Pandemic
15:25 - The potential future of telemedicine in healthcare
21:57 - Giving older adults a Voice in healthcare research
25:16 - The role of telemedicine in different scenarios and individual preferences
28:35 - Onyeche's hopes for job creation and retaining local talent in Iowa City
31:23 - The importance of community-based participatory research in a multicultural city like Iowa

About the host: Caleb is a student at the University of Iowa. Caleb is part of a team supporting the My City My Health Conference in Iowa City. The conference aims to bring together the University of Iowa and the Iowa City corridor community to discuss health equity programs and collaborations. Interested individuals can register for the conference through www.mycity.health.

You will learn about:

The importance of cultural competency in healthcare and how it impacts patient outcomes.
Onyeche's work and research in telemedicine, especially for older adults, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The perspectives of different stakeholders, including older adults, physicians, caregivers, and medical assistants, on the barriers and facilitators of telemedicine.
The potential future of telemedicine and its role in different scenarios, individual preferences, and accessibility.
Onyeche's vision for job creation and retaining local talent in Iowa City, addressing the challenges of attracting and keeping skilled individuals in the area.
The significance of community-based participatory research in multicultural cities like Iowa and the need for collaborative solutions to address diverse communities' healthcare issues.

Show Notes:

Previous Episode

In Dermatology, Health Disparities Can Be Skin Deep with Dr. Marta Van Beek

In this episode of the My City My Health Podcast, host Brooklyn talks with Dr. Marta Van Beek, a dermatologist and executive medical director at the University of Iowa. They discuss the importance of health equity and the work being done to improve it in dermatology and medicine overall. Dr. Van Beek also shares her experience in addressing health disparities and the impact of community involvement in achieving health equity goals.

Show Notes:

[00:00] Introduction to the My City My Health Podcast and guest Dr. Marta Van Beek
[01:29] Dr. Van Beek's definition of health equity and the importance of addressing historical injustices
[04:24] Dr. Van Beek's involvement in national and local initiatives to improve health equity
[05:49] The work being done at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics to provide culturally sensitive hair care products for black patients
[08:33] Dr. Van Beek's drive to obtain a master's in public health and the importance of frequent skin cancer screenings
[10:57] Improvements in health equity in medicine overall and the need to regain trust from marginalized populations
[13:20] Dr. Van Beek's upcoming panel at the My City My Health Conference on providing culturally sensitive haircare products for inpatients
[15:14] The Role of community involvement in addressing health disparities

About the host: Brooklyn is a health studies major at the University of Iowa. Brooklyn is part of a team supporting the My City My Health Conference in Iowa City. The conference aims to bring together the University of Iowa and the Iowa City corridor community to discuss health equity programs and collaborations. Interested individuals can register for the conference through www.mycity.health.

Next Episode

Understanding Mental Health & Immigrant Communities with Dr. Rima Afifi

"I think probably to really think deeply about the amount of othering that we all do every day in our lives and how to start reversing that, how to understand where it comes from, and how we start to keep ourselves to account in that process because we really need to change the way that we interact with people if we are going to ever get to health equity." - Dr. Rima Afifi

In this episode of My City My Health Podcast, host Ellery Winterbottom is joined by Dr. Rima Afifi, a public health expert, and professor, to discuss mental health in immigrant and refugee communities. They delve into the challenges faced by these communities, the importance of understanding and addressing mental health, and the innovative program called Problem Management Plus in Iowa. Join us to learn about the complexities of mental health and how we can all contribute to creating a more equitable society.

About the guest:
Dr. Rima Afifi is a professor in the Department of Community and Behavioral Health at the University of Iowa's College of Public Health. She is an expert in public health, mental health, and the challenges faced by immigrant and refugee communities. Dr. Afifi has worked extensively in developing and implementing innovative programs to support mental health in these communities, such as Problem Management Plus. Her work aims to promote health equity and empower communities through a strengths-based approach.

In this episode of My City My Health Podcast, you will learn:

The challenges faced by immigrant and refugee communities, especially concerning mental health and intergenerational tension.
The concept of the mental health pyramid and its relevance to these communities.
The innovative program called Problem Management Plus and its role in addressing mental health issues in immigrant and refugee communities in Iowa.
The importance of peer-to-peer support, cultural sensitivity, and focusing on the strengths of these communities.
How to get involved and connect with Dr. Rima Afifi's work.
The significance of reflecting on the concept of "othering" and working towards health equity in our daily lives.

Show notes:

00:00 - Introduction
01:10 - About Dr. Rima Afifi
02:40 - The mental health pyramid and its relevance to immigrant communities
05:15 - Intergenerational movement and tension in preserving cultural identity
07:55 - How Problem Management Plus addresses mental health in immigrant communities
12:45 - Peer-to-peer support and cultural sensitivity in the program
17:20 - Scaling up the program across Iowa and its significance
20:40 - How to get involved and connect with Dr. Afifi's work
24:00 - Final thoughts: Reflecting on othering and working towards health equity

About the host: Ellery Winterbottom is a junior at the University of Iowa studying human physiology with a minor in lifestyle medicine on the pre-PA track. Ellery is part of a team supporting the My City My Health Conference in Iowa City. The conference aims to bring together the University of Iowa and the Iowa City corridor community to discuss health equity programs and collaborations. Interested individuals can register for the conference through www.mycity.health.