Cultural competence is a term that is typically used in the healthcare industry to refer to certain attitudes and behaviors, as well as the policies shaped by them, within a specific situation or workplace that enables professionals to be able to effectively work together in a cross-cultural environment. By taking into consideration the different cultures in a setting, cultural competence allows for the culturally appropriate implementation of specific policies, practices, and procedures in order to increase the quality of service that is provided. In order to achieve such a favorable outcome, there are cultural competence training programs that encourage individuals to research and learn about the common ways of thought and behavior within
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Cultural competence plays a huge role in decreasing the disparities in healthcare. By better understanding different cultures, healthcare providers are able to provide far better care for their patients. For example, by better understanding the socio-economic conditions that some ethnic minorities might live under, better care can be provided due to the knowledge of a patient's income (or lack thereof), their respective living conditions, and their workplace environment. Data indicates that minorities have disproportionate levels of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and other diseases, and that their socio-economic status is largely to blame. Many low-income minorities live in heavily polluted areas, cannot afford to eat healthily, are under-educated, and often work in hazardous environments. All of these points are key in being able to provide the best and most accurate care in a cross-cultural …show more content…
In an article by Karen J. Panzarella, the importance of cultural competence in physical therapy programs is examined, as is the education of physical therapists on the matter. Panzarella states that “the education of physical therapists must prepare them for autonomous practice providing culturally appropriate care” (Panzarella, 2009, p. 1144). The article goes on to describe how to initiate a medical screening program for refugees, and how integrating cultural competence into the curriculum will “drive student learning” (Panzarella, 2009, p. 1144). The refugee screening program will allow students in the medical field to practice administering culturally appropriate care and help to provide a window into just how beneficial such cultural curriculum has been in enhancing the learning experience from both the physician and patient perspectives. During the screening process of refugees, students meet with individuals who are recent refugees, and are accompanied by a translator. The screening is helpful in providing important information such as a patient's health history. Once the screening is concluded, students make appropriate recommendations to both the refugee and to the primary physician. The students involved in the evaluations then finish
Cultural competence plays a huge role in decreasing the disparities in healthcare. By better understanding different cultures, healthcare providers are able to provide far better care for their patients. For example, by better understanding the socio-economic conditions that some ethnic minorities might live under, better care can be provided due to the knowledge of a patient's income (or lack thereof), their respective living conditions, and their workplace environment. Data indicates that minorities have disproportionate levels of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and other diseases, and that their socio-economic status is largely to blame. Many low-income minorities live in heavily polluted areas, cannot afford to eat healthily, are under-educated, and often work in hazardous environments. All of these points are key in being able to provide the best and most accurate care in a cross-cultural …show more content…
In an article by Karen J. Panzarella, the importance of cultural competence in physical therapy programs is examined, as is the education of physical therapists on the matter. Panzarella states that “the education of physical therapists must prepare them for autonomous practice providing culturally appropriate care” (Panzarella, 2009, p. 1144). The article goes on to describe how to initiate a medical screening program for refugees, and how integrating cultural competence into the curriculum will “drive student learning” (Panzarella, 2009, p. 1144). The refugee screening program will allow students in the medical field to practice administering culturally appropriate care and help to provide a window into just how beneficial such cultural curriculum has been in enhancing the learning experience from both the physician and patient perspectives. During the screening process of refugees, students meet with individuals who are recent refugees, and are accompanied by a translator. The screening is helpful in providing important information such as a patient's health history. Once the screening is concluded, students make appropriate recommendations to both the refugee and to the primary physician. The students involved in the evaluations then finish