Over the years, the United States has become more diverse with individuals from different ethnic or racial groups constituting the American population. For this reason, cultural competency is key towards ensuring a harmonious working environment in organizations for both workers and clients. Among the African-American community has particularly undergone sufferance from the years America accepted slave trade. Although the practice has long been abandoned, stigma and discrimination are unrelenting evils that still exist in the society, thereby affecting the African-American community in all fronts. For this reason, it is imperative to implement culturally competent practices that ensure priority populations such as African-Americans, Hispanics, among others, receive equal treatment irrespective of differences in race or cultural considerations (Briggs and McBeath, 2010). The adoption of such practices create the feeling of belonging and acceptance, vital elements that prevent aspects of social marginalization that may have adverse consequences.
Briggs and McBeath (2010) define culturally competent care as healthcare that respects and takes into consideration diversity prevalent in the patient population in regards to beliefs, practices, communication, attitudes, and behaviors of individual populations. According to Microtraining Associates (2003), one intervention measure that is in line towards culturally competent care is the adoption of national standards that focus on the provision of culturally and linguistically acceptable services in healthcare. These standards focus on core areas such as governance, workforce, communication and language assistance, as well as continuous improvement. Another intervention measure is the provision of training that is in line with diversity in healthcare. In this case, educational interventions equip healthcare professionals with culture-specific programs that can be implemented in the course of their work and also enhance the understanding of different cultures and their integration in the healthcare industry. In addition, changes in clinical environments encourage respective changes in attitudes in relation to changes in provider knowledge and skill, which are later translated to culturally adaptable behavior.
Language is one of the barriers to achievement of culturally competent care as a result of hampered communication. Individuals may lack proficiency in English thereby affecting the quality of care they receive in healthcare settings. In addition, low health literacy is also a barrier as it in relation to both culture and language. As such, individuals may fail to understand the nature of their health condition owing to such differences hence affecting the quality of care provided and received.
References
Briggs, H. E., & McBeath, B. (2010). Infusing culture into practice: Developing and implementing evidence-based mental health services for African American foster youth. Child Welfare, 89(1), 31-60.
Microtraining Associates (Distributor). (2003). Cultural competence in the helping professions, in counseling the culturally diverse. [Video File]. Retrieved from http://vasc.alexanderstreet.com.csuglobal.idm.oclc.org/view/1778793
