What if one of the greatest drivers of quality, safety, resident satisfaction, and workforce culture is something we rarely see?
Beneath the surface of every long-term care organization are the unconscious assumptions, habits, and everyday interactions that shape decision-making, communication, and resident experiences. While often invisible, these dynamics can influence clinical outcomes, staff engagement, family trust, and organizational excellence. This highly interactive leadership and quality improvement session introduces the UPSTANDER Framework—a practical approach for recognizing, interrupting, and mitigating healthcare bias in real time.
Through case studies, reflection, and actionable strategies, participants will learn how to foster psychologically safe workplaces, strengthen person-centered care, and cultivate organizational cultures where every resident and team member can thrive. Participants will leave with practical tools they can immediately apply to lead meaningful culture change, improve quality of care, and advance health equity throughout their organizations—because lasting transformation begins with each of us.
Nurse Learner Outcome:
Learner Objectives:
- Describe healthcare bias and its impact on resident outcomes, healthcare quality, and health disparities in long-term care.
- Explain the role of healthcare leaders and professionals as UPSTANDERS in advancing quality improvement through equitable, person-centered care.
- Apply practical tools and the UPSTANDER Framework to recognize, interrupt, and mitigate healthcare bias in clinical encounters, team interactions, and organizational leadership.