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Essay on cultural competence in healthcare
Importance of cultural competency in health care
Essay on cultural competence in healthcare
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How have the changing definitions of diversity affected healthcare management and the delivery of healthcare services?
Cultural competence is necessary within todays health care industry. Continuing training and knowledge of how to interact with dissimilar cultures must be employed by health care facilities. Cultural competence is described as the ability to provide services to individuals who are different whether this be race, gender, sexual preference, ethnicity, social status, economic status or any other form of cultural difference.
Diversity has affected healthcare management and the delivery of healthcare services in many ways. Physicians, management, and healthcare staff must be aware that different diseases affect different cultures
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in different ways further, treatment options for one culture may not work for another culture this rule may apply to each specific element of cultural diversity. In an example, treatment for hypertension in a Hispanic male may differ from treatment in a Black American male. Healthcare providers must be knowledgeable of the variances within cultural diversity. What is the value of a culturally competent healthcare organization and its staff? How would you measure cultural competence in your organization? Cultural competency is invaluable knowledge, once one, has the ability to relate to a diverse group of individuals it is almost like a priceless gift.
Cultural competence increases patient satisfaction (the patient feels warm, secure, and safe), cultural competence training and knowledge increases staff moral (staff feel comfortable administering services to any patient regardless of the cultural diversity barrier), and patients are more likely to return to a place where they feel welcomed, consequently, patients will promote the healthcare establishment bringing more business. Cultural competency and embracement of diversity reduces chances of a malpractice suit. Cultural competence not only promotes diversity embracement from healthcare workers>patients but also establishes a culture within the organization that promotes diversity in a 360 degree, for example interactions with co-workers are more advanced than places without diversity …show more content…
embracement. If you were in charge of an organization with low cultural competency and a highly diverse workforce, what programs would you implement for your organization and why? Although in many organizations cultural diversity is not embraced, except where applicable by laws some organizations choose not to foster an atmosphere where cultural competence along with diversity is embraced. Other organizations have a low cultural competency because they are unaware of how cultural competence affects patient quality and outcomes, moreover the organization, as a whole. Other organizations welcome cultural competency but do not know how to implement a program that heightens the awareness within an organization. The Provider’s Guide to Quality and Culture serves as a basis for healthcare organizations to learn about cultural competence and diversity issues that affect the healthcare industry, additionally the Provider’s Guide to Quality and Culture provides a wealth of knowledge for healthcare managers. In the role as a Healthcare Administrator, I would gain educate myself than proceed to educate Physicians, thereafter staff. Education policies would cover awareness of cultural diversity (languages, gender, different cultures and how to address different cultures, gender identity, gender, sexual orientation, and race) and how different diseases affect different populations, further how to show empathy minus sympathy.
I would establish ideas to show the patients we care (sensitivity) for example, calling them after a procedure, sending a card or calling for a patient’s birthday. Last, and most importantly stress the necessity of each patient being treated equal regardless of their ability or how they pay. Last, I would gather feedback from patients by asking them to complete surveys near the end of their visit which would enable the organization to adjust the training curriculum as
needed. After implementing a plan, I would create ongoing training programs that is relevant to diverse issues within the organization as well as around the globe. Our main text encourages continuous improvement and describes how continuous improvement is a primary element of implementing a quality program that addresses patient disparity. References AHRQ.gov (2017). Provider’s guide to quality &Culture. Retrieved from https://innovations.ahrq.gov/qualitytools/providers-guide-quality-culture Baack, D., Fischer A. K. (2013). The essentials of managing in the healthcare industry. Retrieved from https://content.ashford.edu/books/AUHCA340.13.2/sections/fm Overman, V. (2006). The Provider's Guide to Quality and Culture. International Journal Of Dental Hygiene, 4(4), 215-216. Retrieved from http://web.a.ebscohost.com.proxy-library.ashford.edu/ehost/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=8dd5641c-7af7-4ec5-96f9-1a10eb2d8598%40sessionmgr4009&bdata=JkF1dGhUeXBlPWlwLGNwaWQmY3VzdGlkPXM4ODU2ODk3JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#AN=106117837&db=c8h
Being culturally aware and knowledgeable is a must when working in any type of healthcare field. In our society today, we have an array of different cultures and making patients feel comfortable and at easy is our primary goal. Diversity training is something that is a must for each healthcare professional and should be the basis of our healthcare education.
Cultural competency is a very significant necessity in health care today and the lack of it in leadership and in the health workforce, is quite pressing. The lack of cultural competency can bring about dire consequences such as racial and ethnic disparities in health care. It may not be the sole reason for these disparities, but it certainly places a significant role. A patient and health care provider relationship is very significant and can make or break the quality of care that is given. The lack of cultural competency leads to poor communication which then leads to those of diverse backgrounds to feel either unheard or just plain misunderstood. As an East African
Let’s begin with what is the Culture? It is defined as “the shared knowledge and schemes created by a set of people for perceiving, interpreting, expressing, and responding to the social realities around them" Lederach, J.P. (1995). Now let’s understand what cultural competence is. It can be defined as “the ability to honor and respect the beliefs, language, interpersonal styles, and behaviors of individuals and families receiving services, as well as staff who are
Introduction Cultural Competency is fundamentally linked to the principles of social justice and human rights because it provides the nurses with the opportunity to develop interpersonal skills to provide equal care despite one’s cultural background. However, using the principles of social justice and human rights to educate nurses allows them to learn how to negotiate cultural differences. Removing their own cultural filters, and seeing events through the eyes of those who are culturally different, accomplish this. An embedded experience, in which nurses interact with various cultures, would encourage them to adopt cultural competency knowledge (Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, 2008). Environmental justice can affect the population’s health.
The healthcare workforce is suffering critically due to its lack in diversity. As healthcare organizations are growing and the number of patients is increasing, so is the diversity of the patients. There are more minority patients are the number of minorities increase in the United States. The need for minority employees is crucial in that they are needed to help assist patients who have the similar cultural, racial, and ethnic upbringings. There are many barriers in healthcare workforce that are keeping minorities from reaching their full potential to become employees in healthcare, particularly upper-level leadership positions; as patients continue to become more diverse, so does the need of employees.
Cultural Competence is important for many reasons. First, it can help develop culturally sensitive practices which can in turn help reduce barriers that affect treatment in health care settings. Second, it can help build understanding, which is critical in competence, in order wards knowing whom the person recognizes as a health care professional and whom they views as traditional healer, can aid the development of trust and improve the individual’s investment and participation in treatment. Third, our population in the United States is not only growing quickly but also changing, cultural competence will allow us as educators and healthcare workers keep up wi...
Cultural competence in health care provision refers to the capacity of health care systems to offer good care to patients and accommodate employees, who have diverse beliefs, behaviors, and values to meet their cultural, linguistic, and social needs. It comprises of policies, attitudes, and behaviors that integrate to form a system that can operate efficiently in cross cultural conditions. Healthcare organizations look at cultural competence from two major viewpoints. Firstly, it is a tool to enhance patient care from all backgrounds, social groups, languages, religions, and beliefs. Secondly, it is a tool that strategically attracts potential clients to their organizations and, hence, expands
Health care establishments have an obligation to ensure that every individual obtaining care from them will get the best and most valuable treatment regardless of their race, culture, or economic status. The term diversity can be defined as “the quality or state of having different forms, types, ideas, etc, or the state of having people of different races or different cultures in a group or organization”, according to the Webster’s dictionary (2015). The changing demographics due to migration have led to diversity in many cities and states in the U.S. as well as other countries in the world. These changes in the U.S. have today led to the government encouraging health care organizations to explore ways numerous ways
According to Andrews and Boyle (2016), having a diverse workforce provides a greater satisfaction among employees, which will result in higher retention of employees as well. By hiring a diverse culture within an organization this increases a workplaces economy and becomes a culturally competent organization. Otherwise, a high turnover can be very costly to an organization and the functionality can decrease. Many organizations have developed policies to help recruit and retain people from different backgrounds. When employees feel that they are valued because of their diversity, the employees will feel protected from discrimination, feel that there is room for advancement within the company, and increase employment retention (Kaplan, Wiley, & Maertz, 2011). With the increase of minorities across the nation, having diversity in nurses and healthcare workers to accommodate this diversity also improves the quality of care to the patients while also increasing their health outcomes and satisfaction (Ayoola, 2013). We have learned in the previous weeks that being able to communicate with our patient’s and understanding their culture can positively increase the outcome of the health. Having a diverse staff will also help establish trust and make them feel at ease. However, there can be barriers to having a diverse culture in the
In order to provide a diverse healthcare environment, all employees in the healthcare system must understand the difference between culture and diversity. Naturally, culture and diversity mean the same thing. Culture, is certain behavioral characteristics that are learned and shared. Diversity is referred to a person who is of different racial background. Considering a population’s diversity and culture together helps establish culture in a healthcare
Cultural competence can be defined as using the ability of one’s awareness, attitude, knowledge and skill to effectively interact with a patient’s many cultural differences. Madeline Leininger, a pioneer on transcultural nursing describes it this way; “a formal area of study and practice focused on comparative human-care differences and similarities of the beliefs, values and patterned lifeways of cultures to provide culturally congruent, meaningful, and beneficial health care to people” (Barker, 2009, p. 498). The importance of cultural diversity in healthcare allows for the delivery of appropriate cultural autonomy. Showing respect for others will lead to trust between nurse and patient which in turn improves healing and health.
Cultural competence like so many other social constructs has been defined in various ways. One particular definition as determined by the Office of Minority Health states cultural competence is a set of behaviors, attitudes, and policies that are systematically exercised by health care professionals which enables the ability to effectively work among and within cross-cultural situations (Harris, 2010). Betancourt (2005) implied cultural competence is starting to be seen as a real strategy to help with improving healthcare quality and eliminating the injustices pertaining to healthcare delivery and healthcare access. This appeal is gaining favor from healthcare policy makers, providers, insurers and
Salisbury, J., & Byrd, S. (n.d.). Why Diversity Matters in Health Care. In CSA Bulletin.
Cultural competency can be described as the ability to affectively respond to the needs of individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds. There are various reasons for nurses to be cultural
Miller, Leininger, Leuning, Pacquiao, Andrews, and Ludwig-Beyer, (2008) support that the skill of cultural competency in nursing is the ability to gather relevant cultural data on the presenting problem of the patient. This cultural assessment is defined as a "...