Cultural Competence in Healthcare: A Study of the US Healthcare System

This report delves into the critical topic of cultural competence within the US healthcare system, emphasizing the need to address disparities and improve healthcare delivery for diverse populations. It highlights the significance of understanding the socio-cultural influences on patient health behaviors and beliefs. The report proposes interventions at organizational, structural, and clinical levels, including incorporating patient representatives, employing interpreters, and providing cross-cultural training for healthcare professionals. The objective is to equip physicians with knowledge of diverse health practices and beliefs, enabling them to deliver appropriate diagnoses and prescriptions. The report underscores the importance of these strategies to ensure equitable healthcare access and outcomes for all patients, especially in light of anticipated demographic shifts. This document, available on Desklib, offers a comprehensive analysis of the challenges and solutions related to cultural competence in healthcare.

Running head: CULTURAL COMPETENCE AND PROVISION OF HEALTHCARE IN US
CULTURAL COMPETENCE AND PROVISION OF HEALTHCARE IN US
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CULTURAL COMPETENCE AND PROVISION OF HEALTHCARE IN US
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
As per previous studies, causes of disparities in providing healthcare to patients of minority race
or ethnic groups are multifarious in United States. Notably, social determinants of health are
more responsible for poor health conditions than the system of healthcare delivery. The objective
of the chosen article is to suggest interventions into the healthcare system that make it culturally
competent. “Cultural competence” in health care means: thoroughly comprehending the pertinent
socio-cultural influences on health related behaviors and beliefs of patients; considering how the
factors work on several levels of the health care delivery programs; and, finally, developing
strategic interventions that take into account these issues to assure standard level of health care
delivery to patients across diversified ethnic and racial groups. At the organizational level, the
work force of the healthcare delivery department can be made culturally competent through
inclusion of representatives of the patients’ population. At the structural level, employing
interpreters and correct cultural and linguistic appropriation of the healthcare materials can
ensure proper delivery of healthcare services. At the clinical level, cross-cultural training can be
conducted to equip physicians with diverse health beliefs and behaviors of the patients to enable
them to understand the patients and deliver proper diagnoses and prescriptions. Anticipation of
major demographic changes in coming decades magnified the importance of studying disparities
in minority community’s provision of healthcare: a simple, practical guide is direly needed by
the governmental and private healthcare providers alike as the tension is mounting with
overwhelming literature highlighting this problem.

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CULTURAL COMPETENCE AND PROVISION OF HEALTHCARE IN US
Reference:
Betancourt, J.R., Green, A.R., Carrillo, J.E. and Owusu Ananeh-Firempong, I.I., 2016. Defining
cultural competence: a practical framework for addressing racial/ethnic disparities in health and
health care. Public health reports.