Patient care excellence is impossible without patient care equality. To truly reach this goal, healthcare professionals need to understand and appreciate differing cultural backgrounds, both in the individuals they care for and in the communities they serve.
Cultural competence means eliminating racial, economic, religious, ethnic, and social disparities as you acknowledge the differences between your patients and between you and each one of them. Then, you can not only provide first-rate care but also celebrate the unique aspects of everyone’s backgrounds and lifestyles.
The importance of cultural competence in healthcare becomes even greater as population shifts continue in the United States. Did you know that:
- Of the more than 37 million adults in the U.S. who speak a language other than English, almost half – 48 percent to be exact – have reported that they speak English less than “very well?” Language barriers and other communication issues can pose significant challenges to receiving needed preventive or ongoing care.
- This spills over into lower patient satisfaction and ultimately threatens the quality of care. For instance, Spanish-speaking Latinos are less satisfied with their care and more likely to report problems than those who speak English.
Interact successfully with diverse patients.
Remember, each patient has a unique set of beliefs and values, and they may vary from yours. Keep an open mind – and keep learning.
- Ask patients about their beliefs regarding their health condition. For instance, “What do you think caused the problem? Why do you think it started when it did? Is there anything you fear about your illness?” This information will help you with patient interactions and shared decision-making. Recognize that the meaning and/or value of health prevention, intervention, and treatment may differ greatly among cultures.
Provide culturally appropriate decision aids.
Ask each patient about their learning preferences so you can better present information to them. Find out if they prefer materials in print, video, or audio format. Ask if you should explain by talking, using models, making drawings, or demonstrating how to do something.
Make sure your various media – videos, DVDs, CDs, audiotapes, etc. – reflect the cultures of the patients you serve.
Work with qualified interpreters.
If you don’t fluently speak their language, qualified medical interpreters are critically important for patients whose English proficiency is limited. Avoid settling for unqualified interpreters, including family members and friends. This is more likely to result in misunderstandings or medical errors.
- Two helpful tools are these reference guides from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality: Overcoming Communication Barriers With Your Patients and Using the Teach-Back Technique.
- The agency also provides culturally appropriate interactive decision-making aids and summaries that compare treatment options for various health conditions.
As we match talented healthcare professionals with top facilities in California and nationwide, AlliedUP Co-op is fully committed to cultural competency, diversity, equity, and inclusion. If these goals align with yours as you grow your career, consider becoming a part of our community. Contact us today to learn more.
