Cultural Competence In Health Care

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A Proposed Model for Addressing Cultural Competence in Health Care The Greater Lowell Health Alliance (GLHA) conducted a needs assessment of health disparities affecting those who identify as Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual (LGB), for the Greater Lowell area. The needs assessment highlighted several factors that are at the root cause of such disparities, which included, culturally competent care and linguistic competence. As a result of the needs assessment, the GLHA adopted several medical policies to support their cultural competence initiative, such as collection of patients’ sexual orientation data, and identifying training modules on health equity. As part of its new initiative, the GLHA plans to provide cultural competence training to healthcare …show more content…

These studies highlight disparities in healthcare utilization, perceived quality of healthcare treatment, willingness to seek care, and treatment adherence among the LGB population (Agénor, Muzny, Schick, Austin, & Potter, 2017; Ard & Makadon, 2012; Betancourt, Green, Carrillo, & Park, 2005; Bostwick, Boyd, Hughes, & McCabe, 2010; Brach & Fraser, 2000; Burgess, Warren, Phelan, Dovidio, & Ryn, 2010; Mays, Yancey, Cochran, Weber, & Fielding, 2002). The cross-cultural health-related disparities highlighted by various research studies suggest a need to implement solutions to address these health inequities. One such solution is through cultural competence …show more content…

Hence, cultural competence describes the integration of cultural knowledge, respect, policies and practices in the healthcare setting (Kodjo, 2009). Cultural competence aims to minimize the effect of cross-cultural health disparities and bias, as well as increase patients’ overall satisfaction (Kodjo, 2009), treatment adherence and willingness to seek care (Beach et al., 2005; Brach & Fraserirector,

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