Cultural Competency: Medical Providers

Dr. Galanti provides insight into the relationship between cultural diversity and heath care providers. Dr. Galanti’s briefly states the difference between “stereotype and generalization”. The author recognizes that generalization may be a key factor used by workers in the health care community to bring awareness and a better understanding of cultural differences among patients. The article explains that although cultures differ in values, traditions, and beliefs, there are questions (the 4’C’s of culture) that may open up the line of communication, between provider and

If nurses lack of understanding regarding community demographics and cultural differences, they can have unintentional bias, and stereotype patients due to a lack of awareness of the cultural demographics of the community they serve (Camphinha-Bacote, 2011). Cultural competence is the understanding of different cultures and how that impacts the provision of patient care. Cultural competence in nursing is defined as one willingness or the desire to understand a patient’s culture, the ability to learn about a defined cultures belief system, and to work effectively as a healthcare provider understanding the dynamics of the patient’s culture as it relates to their relationships and care (Kardong-Edgren et Al.,

The article that I chose is Improving Cultural Competence to Reduce Health Disparities for priority Populations. This topic is relevant to social work because it is talking about cultural competence in the health care system and the one major skill that social workers need is cultural competency. This article is also relevant to social work because it talks about the importance of cultural competence in reducing disparities through culturally sensitive and unbiased quality care and since the social work field is all about treating everyone equally and fairly, this article falls right under its relevance. It continues to talk about programs to improve the knowledge of providers on cultural competency and general approaches that have been utilized in creating educational interventions to address cultural competence. This is great because social workers are never done learning, it is always important to train social worker on how to be culturally competent, specially because the populations being served are very diverse therefore, there should always be a way to train service providers on how to have cultural awareness.

With over 194 countries in the world, every country has own beliefs, language, customs and traditions which called culture. In other words, every place has own personality that form it or make it distinguished from others. As a result, people have to understand, adapt, respect and accept the different cultures which called culture competence. It defined that Cultural competence refers to the ability to coordinate or interact with other people who have different cultures (InFOMORY.com). In other words, a person who can deal with people who have different ethnicity or background, it is considered as especial trait because it will help him/her a lot where ever you are during dealing with people. In general, Culture competence is a very important factor that influences a person 's culture, values and beliefs. Also, it considered a step for learning about the various cultures and forming background about many cultures. In addition to that it has a major role in nursing field which is developing the method of providing care. In other words, the main target of cultural competent health care services is providing the highest level of care to every patient, regardless of race, ethnicity, cultural background, English proficiency or literacy (Health Policy Institute). In this case, we faced multi opinions toward culture competence in nursing. These opinions that support cultural competence in nursing for many reasons which are providing suitable care, proper

Culture competency is defined as one has the knowledge, the abilities and the skill to deliver care congruent with the patient’s cultural beliefs and practices (Purnell, 2013). As a nurse or a health care provider, increasing ones consciousness of culture diversity improves the possibilities for health care practitioners to provide competent care (Purnell, 2013). Nurses and all health care providers should be aware of other cultures to provide the best care that they can for that individual. Developing a relationship with diverse cultural groups involves good interpersonal skills and the application of knowledge and techniques learned from the physical, biological, and social sciences as well as the humanities (Purnell, 2013). I am choosing to select the Indian culture for my first assignment.

Culture diversity Sensitivity is important when dealing with Mexican patients for they tend to be very private and always need to feel respected. It is important to explain what must be done to them first and why it must be done. Mexicans already have the upmost respect for health care providers so by doing this will only help build their trust. Language is another thing to look out for not just for competence, bot also the cultural meaning people attach to it. Culturally congruent care is meaningful, supportive, and facilitative because it fits valued life patterns of patients (Potter

After taking the self-assessment survey for quality and culture, I would like to improve and understand how cultural competence can have a real impact on clinical outcomes. Taking from some of the questions I answered wrong, it make me wants to be cultural competent. There are a few questions I am surprised and shocked, that I answered them incorrectly. I do understand that with training, I will start to gain cultural competence but it will take consistent individual practice on my part to develop and maintain individual cultural competence. Cultural competence can lead to, health literacy, health equity, and fewer diagnostic errors, which might help the patient expand their choices and access high quality medical providers because patient

Cultural competence is defined as a knowledge and understanding of cultures, histories and contemporary realities and awareness of protocols, combined with the proficiency to engage and work effectively in a cultural context congruent to the expectations of the people of that culture. (Universities Australia, 2011). The term cultural competence in health care refers to both the actions of the practitioner and their duty of care for the patient. This means that the care provided must be considered safe by the person receiving the care not the person providing it. (Victorian Government

In a healthcare setting you will see different cultures that will come and go. It is very important to know how to deal with each culture so that you can help them while still making sure they are comfortable. Native Americans have many different characteristics because of the different tribes from all over the world. Healthcare providers should be familiar with them so they know how to distinguish them if needed. While knowing their characteristics they should also know how to interact with Native Americans as well since their culture is a lot different than ours, we want to make sure that we don’t disrespect them. Our healthcare providers would impact Native Americans and healthcare by showing them that we respect them and want to be there to help them anyways that we can so

Emphasis on cultural sensitivity and awareness is most efficacious in resolving cultural competency because the solution is both practical and simple. By providing training programs within health care settings that specifically focus on cultural sensitivity and awareness, physicians will learn to respond effectively to their Hispanic patients’ needs that show knowledge of their cultural differences. “One-size-fits all” types of prevention and treatment models cannot be applied to Hispanic patients and expect beneficial outcomes, thus “the challenge is for physicians to move beyond their belief systems and values and expand their world views to validate how others function”

The book penned by Anne Fadiman, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down describes about cultural deviation and language barrier with respect to medical beliefs among Hmong natives who migrated to the United States. The story has exhibited the impact on conflicting cultural beliefs with reference to medical care and their interpretation towards Western medical health system (1997). This is a heartbreaking story about Hmong native couple and has a daughter named Lia who is suffering from epilepsy at an early age of 3 months old, which is regarded as a serious medical condition. Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder that affects all ages and characterized by unpredictable seizures (Epilepsy Foundation, 2014). However, in the book the disease in itself is no longer a source of urgency to Lia’s parents believe that their daughter’s soul had fled her body and become lost. In a similar vein, the disease was not

There are several cultural concepts competence for example in the book identified cultural competency in two senses. First, recognizing the beliefs and behaviors of own cultural person to treat a patient in a way fit the culture. Second, acquiring adequate knowledge of cultural to give the care that suits the culture of the person (Cartwright, L.A. and Shingles, R.R., 2011). Simplify, Dr. René state cultural competence as a process that makes you involved and appreciate cultural differences.

United States populations are different ethnic and cultural combined. Everyday a medical staffs will interact with a different ethnic group patient, however most patients don’t know that their cultural diversity plays an important role in their safety. Cultural diversity plays important role how doctor communication with patient, treatment method is safe for the patient, and what medication to prescribe the patient.

According to the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) (2016), "cultural competence refers to the ability to honor and respect the beliefs, languages, interpersonal styles, and behaviors of individuals and families receiving services, as well as staff members who are providing such services". Therefore, it is critical for community health nurses to equip with cultural competence when they service and provide care to diverse populations. In order to offer the optimal care, well utilizing the advantages of the cultures is essential.

Through my life experiences I feel I have gained a heightened awareness when it comes to critical perspectives in health and culture as it relates to understanding the sources of oppression and inequities within structures, policies, and practices (Getzlaf and Osborne, 2010). By default I was born African-American, which has given me a unique perspective into the inequities and social injustices that people in the minority or subset population face. If I am to be honest, being a minority in this country and experiencing first hand the issues of poverty and lack of medical insurance has made me sensitive to the issues that my patient’s experience. By navigating through my own barriers, I am better able to advocate for my patients because