The ability to deliver high quality care to patients as our population becomes more diverse is a challenge that can be overcome through awareness, education, and the practice of cultural competency skills. The following information provides resources to assist the southeast in meeting the diverse needs of our patient groups
What is Cultural Competency?
One of the most widely accepted definition of cultural competency is provided by Joseph Betancourt, MD. He states the following:
"Cultural competence is not a panacea that will single-handedly improve health outcomes and eliminate disparities, but a necessary set of skills for physicians who wish to deliver high-quality care to all patients. If we accept this premise, we will see cultural competence as a movement that is not marginal, but mainstream."
Excerpt from "Cultural Competence-Marginal or Mainstream Movement?" by Joseph R. Betancourt, M.D., M.P.H. published in New England Journal of Medicine 351:10, September 2, 2004.
Why is Cultural Competence important?
The increasing population growth of racial and ethnic communities and linguistic groups, each with its own cultural traits and health profiles, presents a challenge to the health care delivery service industry in this country. The provider and the patient each bring their individual learned patterns of language and culture to the health care experience which must be transcended to achieve equal access and quality health care.
What's the Difference? Cultural Competence, Awareness, and Sensitivity
Cultural competence emphasizes the idea of effectively operating in different cultural contexts. Knowledge, sensitivity, and awareness do not include this concept
Cultural competence is a developmental process that evolves over an extended period. Both individuals and organizations are at various levels of awareness, knowledge and skills along the cultural competence continuum.
By highlighting the importance of Cultural Competency, we hope to connect TB healthcare professionals with resources and technical assistance to ensure that their staff and institution have appropriate tools to create a culturally competent TB workforce. In addition to providing resources on Culturally Competency, we have included specific information on the following groups: foreign-born, Spanish speaking population, U.S. born African Americans, and the culture of Corrections. Hopefully these resources will assist TB healthcare professionals in meeting the needs of diverse patient groups and ultimately continue to enhance the patient-provider relationship.
RESOURCES AND REFERENCE MATERIAL
TB-specific Cultural Competency Resources
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TB Education and Training Network:
The TB ETN Network brings TB professionals together to share resources and build education and training skills.
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TB & Cultural Competency Newsletter. This newsletter discusses cultural proficiency and provides an ongoing forum for learning and skill development for anyone working in TB control. The newsletter includes relevant cases, articles and resources for culturally competent healthcare with a TB focus. The newsletter is published two times per year.
General Cultural Competency Resources
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The Provider's Guide to Quality & Culture: This site is designed to assist health care organizations throughout the US in providing high quality, culturally competent services to services to multi-ethnic populations.
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HRSA: Cultural Competence Resources for Health Care Providers: This website includes assessment tools, information on diseases, conditions, culture/language, training curricula and information on special populations:
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National Prevention Information Network: Cultural Competence.. This website details the definition of cultural competence and highlights its importance as it applies to infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, STDs, and TB Prevention. It also includes various links and resources for different communities that are at high risk in our community.
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Office of Minority Health: Cultural Competency: This website provides a comprehensive view of cultural competency’. It includes information on standards, guides, and services available to increase understanding of cultural competency in the healthcare community.
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National Center for Cultural Competence. The mission of the National Center for Cultural Competence (NCCC) is to increase the capacity of health and mental health programs to design, implement, and evaluate culturally and linguistically competent service delivery systems.
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Cultural Healthcare Program. The mission of the Cross Cultural Health Care Program is to serve as a bridge between communities and health care institutions to ensure full access to quality health care that is culturally and linguistically appropriate.
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University of Washington Medical Center: Culture Clues: Culture Clues are tip sheets for clinicians, designed to increase awareness about concepts and preferences of patients from the diverse cultures served by University of Washington Medical Center.
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Cultural Competence Education for Medical Students: This document is a guide that defines cultural competence and provides a detailed set of standards that medical students must meet in their curriculum with regards to cultural competence.
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Transcultural Nursing Society: Contains links to current and past issues of the Journal of Transcultural Nursing as well as information on courses and lectures.
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Diversity Rx: Cultural Competence Practice and Training: Overview. This website provides information that emphasizes the importance of cultural competence for healthcare professionals. Also provided is contact information for the bilingual interpreter services: models programs.
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Migrant Clinicians Network: Cultural Competency in Practice: This website provides resources and information on how to achieve “clinical excellence” through understanding of cultural competency.
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Kaiser Family Foundation: Compendium of Cultural Competence Initiatives in Health Care: This website provides information on the advancement of cultural competency in health care.
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Better Diabetes Care: Improving Cultural Competency: Resources: This website provides information on how to overcome obstacles and address issues when dealing with cultural competence. Resources on how to obtain cultural competency kits through the AMA and other information is provided.
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EthnoMed. The EthnoMed site contains information about cultural beliefs, medical issues and other related issues pertinent to the health care of recent immigrants to Seattle or the US, many of whom are refugees fleeing war-torn parts of the world.
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National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health Care, 2001 Final Report from the Office of Minority Health.
Patient and Community Education Materials
SNTC is not responsible for (or endorsing) these organizations and/or resources but is simply providing you with links. This is not a complete or exhaustive list of all the related resources. We would appreciate receiving any new updated information about culturally competent health care resources for inclusion here. Please email us at sntc@medicine.ufl.edu.