What's New | March 16, 2009

Culturally Competent Care

According to the National Center for Cultural Competence, providing culturally competent health care services requires an understanding of:

cultural beliefs, values, traditions and practices;
culturally defined, health-related needs of individuals, families and communities;
culturally based belief systems of the etiology of illness and disease and those related to health and healing; and
attitudes toward seeking help from health care providers.

The featured innovations describe culturally competent programs that serve diverse populations.

Featured Innovations:

• Culturally Competent Outreach, Services, and Education Improve Access to Insurance, Primary Care, and Immunizations for Hispanic and Portuguese Children

• Culturally Competent Self-Management Program Increases Confidence and Knowledge for African Americans With or at Risk for Diabetes

• Multiagency Collaboration Improves Access to Culturally Sensitive Care and Support Services for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Seniors

Featured QualityTools:

• More Than Words Toolkit
Developed by Hablamos Juntos

• Provider’s Guide to Quality & Culture
Developed by Bureau of Primary Health Care-Health Resources and Services Administration; Management Sciences for Health, Inc.; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

• Speaking Together Toolkit
Developed by George Washington University, School of Public Health and Health Services; Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

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Also in This Issue:

Innovations >

• Countywide Partnership Promotes Culturally Appropriate Outreach and Education, Leading to Increased Breast Cancer Screening and Earlier Detection in Underserved Minorities

• Family Violence Prevention Program Significantly Improves Ability to Identify and Facilitate Treatment for Patients Affected by Domestic Violence

• Four-Step Protocol Determines Therapy for Patients With Acute Respiratory Failure, Leading to Improved Mobility, Shorter Stays

• Hospital Revamps Morbidity and Mortality Conferences to Focus on System-Wide Improvement, Leading to Better Identification and Addressing of Quality Problems

QualityTools >

• Hablamos Juntos: Using Symbols
Developed by University of California, San Francisco- Fresno Center for Medical Education & Research

• Healthy Men
Developed by Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

• Hispanic Diabetes Disparities Learning Network in Community Health Centers
Developed by Delmarva Foundation

• Toolkit to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care
Developed by The National Health Plan Collaborative