What Is Your Multi-Cultural Proficiency?

Today, in the United States, Hispanics represent almost 14% of the total population and are now the largest minority group in the country. The Hispanic population, as well as African-Americans and Asian Americans now represent over 32% of our population.

Recent research by the Robert Wood Foundation shows that new patients are increasingly likely to be NEP/LEP – or, "non-English proficient" or "limited English proficient." Few health care providers have even come to grips with that most fundamental of cross-cultural problems – basic communication. Few demonstrate cross-cultural competency, not alone proficiency.

Diversity measurement should be a key component of any employee satisfaction, customer satisfaction and corporate image program.

In March 2001 the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health, published the National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Healthcare Report. In this report 14 standards are articulated. Included:

Standard 9 states, Health care organizations should conduct initial and ongoing organizational self assessments . . . and are encouraged to integrate cultural and linguistic confidence-related measures into there internal audits, performance improvement programs, patient satisfaction assessments, and outcomes based evaluations.

Standard 11 states, Health care organizations should maintain a current demographic, cultural, and epidemiological profile of the community as well as a needs assessment to accurately plan for and implement services that respond to the cultural and linguistic characteristics of the service area.

• Is your organization truly serving its community? Is it vulnerable to a looming wave of law civil rights suits by consumer groups fed up with violations of federal mandates? Could it be in danger of losing federal funding from Medicare, Medicaid, or grants?
• Have you determined the ethnic and cultural mix of the community you serve?
• What is your organization's overall commitment to cultural diversity?
• Have you developed a demographic and cultural profile as well as a needs assessment of the community you serve based on cultural and linguistic characteristics?
• How has your institution integrated cultural and linguistic competence-related measures into your internal audits, performance improvement programs, patient satisfaction assessments, and outcomes based evaluations?

Cooper Research has the expertise and professional staff to work with you in developing a multi-cultural program that will permit your organization to meet the federal standards. Please call us today at 513-489-8838 for more information about this exciting new program and allow us to show you how this program can make a difference at your institution.

[ return to top ]