Diversity Issues in the Delivery of Healthcare

Abstract

What does it mean to be culturally competent and proficient? What criteria are used to describe a culturally competent healthcare delivery system and how can an individual or an organization grow in competency? What is the delivery of competent care related to me personally?This article addresses these questions with the assumption that knowing one's viewpoints on how culture change offers a sample of the glasses through which we view others. Culture and culture change are defined, and four models that explain the process of culture change are discussed in detail. These models represent different world views held to explain the phenomena of acculturation. The article concludes with a summary of the recommended National Standards for cultural and linguistic appropriate healthcare services developed by the Office of Minority Health. The concepts described can serve as universal tools for individuals and/or organizations interested in cultural competency.

Culturally Congruent Care

“…Based on an extensive review of current medical and public health literature, it is proposed that interventions cluster into three areas: (a) organizational cultural competence interventions (workforce diversity and training), (b) structural cultural competence interventions (addressing processes, barriers, and facilitators of culturally congruent care), and (c) clinical cultural competence intervention (transcultural communication and adaptation of care based on assessment of individual needs [Betancourt et al, 2003]). This categorization of interventions closely resembles Luna's (2003) grouping of national recommendations to assure cultural competence in healthcare.…”