Cultural Competence - Is It Necessary
Cultural Competence: Is it necessary? What is Cultural Competence?
Many different definitions of cultural competence are out there, but probably the most widely accepted is the following: “Cultural and linguistic competence is a set of congruent behaviors, knowledge, attitudes, and policies that come together in a system, organization, or among professionals that enables effective work in cross-cultural situations. “Culture” refers to integrated patterns of human behavior that include the language, thoughts, actions, customs, beliefs, and institutions of racial, ethnic, social, or religious groups. “Competence” implies having the capacity to function effectively as an individual or an organization within the context of the cultural beliefs, practices, and needs presented by patients and their communities.
Cultural competence in health care combines the beliefs of patient centered care with an understanding of the social and cultural influences that affect the quality of medical services and treatment. With the ever increasing diversity of the population of the United States and strong evidence of racial and ethnic disparities in health care, it is critically important that health care professionals are educated specifically to address issues of culture in an effective manner. Organizations such as the National Academies of Sciences’ Institute of Medicine and the American Medical Association have recognized this.” (OMH - Ofiice of Minority Health)
Cultural competence as a business imperative.
Several researchers viewed cultural competence as being driven by both quality and business imperatives. Ideally, they felt that cultural competence might improve outcomes and help control costs by making care more effective and efficient. Although unaware of any direct evidence that supported this hypothesis, they acknowledged important circumstantial evidence. They also felt that health insurers could market cultural competence initiatives to employers as a
Many different definitions of cultural competence are out there, but probably the most widely accepted is the following: “Cultural and linguistic competence is a set of congruent behaviors, knowledge, attitudes, and policies that come together in a system, organization, or among professionals that enables effective work in cross-cultural situations. “Culture” refers to integrated patterns of human behavior that include the language, thoughts, actions, customs, beliefs, and institutions of racial, ethnic, social, or religious groups. “Competence” implies having the capacity to function effectively as an individual or an organization within the context of the cultural beliefs, practices, and needs presented by patients and their communities.
Cultural competence in health care combines the beliefs of patient centered care with an understanding of the social and cultural influences that affect the quality of medical services and treatment. With the ever increasing diversity of the population of the United States and strong evidence of racial and ethnic disparities in health care, it is critically important that health care professionals are educated specifically to address issues of culture in an effective manner. Organizations such as the National Academies of Sciences’ Institute of Medicine and the American Medical Association have recognized this.” (OMH - Ofiice of Minority Health)
Cultural competence as a business imperative.
Several researchers viewed cultural competence as being driven by both quality and business imperatives. Ideally, they felt that cultural competence might improve outcomes and help control costs by making care more effective and efficient. Although unaware of any direct evidence that supported this hypothesis, they acknowledged important circumstantial evidence. They also felt that health insurers could market cultural competence initiatives to employers as a