CULTURAL RELIGIOUS COMPETENCE IN CLINICAL PRACTICE

Course overview

THE DIVERSITY OF RELIGION WITHIN OUR WORLD'S POPULATION BRINGS CHALLENGES FOR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND SYSTEMS TO DELIVER CULTURALLY COMPETENT MEDICAL CARE. CULTURAL COMPETENCE IS THE ABILITY OF HEALTH PROVIDERS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO DELIVER HEALTH CARE SERVICES THAT MEET THE CULTURAL, SOCIAL, AND RELIGIOUS NEEDS OF PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. CULTURALLY COMPETENT CARE CAN IMPROVE PATIENT QUALITY AND CARE OUTCOMES. STRATEGIES TO MOVE HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND SYSTEMS TOWARDS THESE GOALS INCLUDE PROVIDING CULTURAL COMPETENCE TRAINING AND DEVELOPING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES THAT DECREASE BARRIERS TO PROVIDING CULTURALLY COMPETENT PATIENT CARE. THIS ACTIVITY HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF CULTURAL COMPETENCE IN CLINICAL MEDICINE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES.