Table 3 General emergency department provider strategies categorized as dimensions of equity-oriented healthcare (Ford-Gilboe Framework)

Trauma and Violence Informed Care

• Recognizing past negative experiences with the health care system.

• Making efforts to address concerns that may lead patients to decline or leave care.

• Involving patients in shared decision making.

Culturally Safe Care

• Recognizing that there can be differences in First Nations communications styles and behavioural norms (which will vary between peoples and communities), which fast-paced ED processes are not designed for.

• Adjusting care approach to allow more time and ensure shared decision making.

• Sensitivity in how questions about substance use are framed.

• Advocating with colleagues for better understandings of social determinants of health, including discrimination.

• Attention to power imbalances and their impact on the care encounter.

• Reflection on personal biases and self-correcting biased assumptions during care interactions.

Contextually Tailored Care

• Ensuring follow up appointments are at times and in places that patients can attend.

• Ensuring the ability to communicate with the patient after discharge.

• Ensuring continuity of care with next provider.

• Providing transportation options.

• Providing documentation patients need for other services.

• Addressing social determinants of health that may prevent needed follow up care.