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Patients are not receiving complete care because of possible culture discrimination.
They may provide misinformation about their condition based on the fear of being
judged by health care providers. Care can be negatively affected by the provider’s
assumptions about the patient. Facial expressions and language choice are crucial in
gaining a patient’s trust. This lack of cultural competency is particularly harmful to
patients based on race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, and economic status. A policy
must be made to provide cultural competency training to all individuals working in
medical offices. It is important to make sure that patients understand their illnesses
and what their role is in treating it.
Executive Summary
Cultural
Competence: The
Road to Exceptional
Health Care
Tierra Thomas
Background
Clearly, America is becoming a cultural melting pot. For example, the Hispanic
population in the U.S. has increased by 58% from 1990 to 2000.1
It is incredible
to think that our country is a desirable place due to the many opportunities;
however, health care is an area that needs work. The prevalence rates of
preventable diseases and mortality is higher in blacks, which means that they
are more likely to suffer from premature death.2
Health disparities are a major
issue in relation to gender, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, class, and many
other factors. These are all things that make our country diverse and citizens’
health should not have to suffer because of it.

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Critique of Policy Options
Recommendations for Action
• Mandatory cultural competency training for health care
providers
• Survey patients (anonymously) about the quality of care they
received immediately after each visit
• After reaching a specific amount of negative feedback,
providers must evaluate results and discuss solutions in an
office meeting
Conclusion
There are not any current policies that exist
regarding cultural competency in medical
offices. Sensitivity training seems to be a
requirement for students training to
become nurses or doctors, but this is not
enough. Surveys are used at most medical
offices, but are usually mailed out months
after a visit. By this time, patients have
forgotten their visit in its entirety. Another
downside is the inconvenience of getting
the survey back to the medical office in
the right hands. There must be a policy
change in order to properly evaluate the
quality of health care given by providers.
Health care has come a long way and that should not stop now. Health
disparities are persistent and must be addressed. Implementing a policy that
requires health care providers to participate in mandatory cultural
competency training can be a great start. When providers are able to help
patients without using accusations or offensive gestures, patients will be more
comfortable and open to communicating. Health care providers can then
provide patients with the tools they need to overcome any illness.

3. Bibliography
1
ASKIM-LOVSETH, M. K., & ALDANA, A. (2010). Looking Beyond 'Affordable' Health Care: Cultural
Understanding and Sensitivity-Necessities in Addressing the Health Care Disparities of the U.S.
Hispanic Population. Health Marketing Quarterly, 27(4), 354-387. doi:10.1080/07359683.2010.519990
2
Lo, C., Howell, R., & Cheng, T. (2013). Disparities in Whites' Versus Blacks' Self-Rated Health: Social Status,
Health-Care Services, and Health Behaviors. Journal Of Community Health, 38(4), 727-733.
doi:10.1007/s10900-013-9671-3