Patient Experience Journal (PXJ) is excited to announce the call for submissions for its July 2021 special issue on the impact of racial inequality, health disparities, and discrimination on the human experience. The world now finds itself in the grips of a global pandemic that is taking its toll on communities socially and economically, placing strain on healthcare workers and revealing the very systemic weaknesses and inherent biases that have been resting just beneath the surface of our society for years. The challenge of disparity and inequity is not unique to healthcare, but in the era of COVID-19, what many knew to be true has been laid bare for all to see. The July 2020 issue of PX Pulse (https://www.theberylinstitute.org/PXPULSE) further revealed a great imbalance in how experience is perceived dependent on race and gender and highlighted the real experiences of discrimination that people are facing in healthcare today. This special issue will explore the impact of these fundamental challenges on our ability to deliver on experience overall. The issue will look for pieces that address evidence-based efforts at measuring the impact of inequity and disparities, reveal practices that are focused on addressing the challenges inequity and disparity create and share personal stories of the impact these issues have had. Through this special issue, PXJ looks to not only build a foundational collection of knowledge and information that will continue to push the conversation on experience forward but also create a platform for action in addressing this issue that weighs heavily on the heart of healthcare.
Submission Types
As with all issues of Patient Experience Journal, submissions can take one of the following formats:
Research
• Papers describing research studies using qualitative, quantitative, experimental, survey and innovative multi-method designs to rigorously test hypotheses about the prevalence and impact of patient experience efforts and interventions to facilitate it.
Case Study
• Papers describing specific and tangible application of practice, the evidence behind its selection and the measurable outcomes it has generated. Submissions should be structured to include:
o A description of the issue the effort looked to address.
o The practices, processes or programs applied to address the issue and why these were selected.
o The measurable outcomes - positive, negative or neutral - realized as a result of the effort.
o Implicationsforthiscaseonfurtherpracticeandgeneralizedrecommendationsbasedontheoutcomes. o Suggestions for further exploration or research in this area. Questions that remain.
Personal Narrative
• Papers that showcase individual patients, providers or others who are leading the effort to employ patient experience practices with powerful lessons, practical outcomes or measured results. Submission should be a maximum of 2500 words to capture the essence and importance of the story and should be structured as follows:
o Intent of the essay/introduction to the narrative - What do you intend to share?
o General narrative, a synopsis of the story highlighting relevant moments - What was your experience?
o Reflections/recommendations based on experience - focused on practical implication - What would you want to see happen/change as a result of your experience?
Submission Deadline & Overview
The deadline for submissions is now April 30, 2021. Submissions should be identified as intended for the special issue. Submitting for this special issue does not guarantee inclusion in the issue, and articles not included may be considered for future issues of PXJ. You can begin the submission process here: http://bit.ly/PXJ_Submit. Please direct any inquiries to: info@pxjournal.org
About Patient Experience Journal
Patient Experience Journal is an international, multidisciplinary and multi-method, open-access, peer-reviewed journal focused on the research and proven practices around understanding and improving patient experience. PXJ is designed to share ideas and research, and reinforce key concepts that impact the delivery of service, safety and quality and their influence on the experience of patients and families across healthcare settings.