Essentials of Cultural Competence
Culturally competent care is care that:
- is sensitive to the differences individuals may have in their experiences and responses due to their heritage, socioeconomic situation, ethnicity, and cultural background.
- is based on understanding how those differences may inform the responses of people and the processes of caring for them.
- elicits the medically relevant values, beliefs, customs, characteristics, and social norms of the patient.
- recognizes the important differences in value and belief systems between patient and provider.
- negotiates an acceptable treatment plan for the patient.