Guide maps steps to ’culturally competent’ hospitals

A guide released by the Equity of Care initiative and the American Hospital Association's Hospitals (AHA) in Pursuit of Excellence outlines the steps necessary for an organization to become a "culturally competent" hospital. Cultural competence—the ability to provide care to patients with diverse values, beliefs, and behaviors and tailor healthcare delivery methods to meet their social, cultural, and linguistic needs—can improve health outcomes, increase community participation, and possibly lower costs, according to the guide, titled "Becoming a Culturally Competent Health Care Organization."

”The steps to becoming culturally competent begin with understanding the background of the community and patient population, the effect that cultural influences have on care delivery, and the skills needed by clinicians and staff," the AHA stated. "Effective educational programs and training for hospital staff include a cultural assessment, multiple training methods, ongoing teaching, and measurement and tracking.”

Source: FierceHealthcare