Enter text for rollover 1In 1994, the American Medical Association defined cultural competence as: The knowledge and interpersonal skills that allow providers to understand, appreciate, and work with individuals from cultures other than their own. It involves an awareness and acceptance of cultural differences; self-awareness; knowledge of the patient's culture; and adaptation of skills.

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Enter text for rollover 2Cultural and linguistic competence is the ability of healthcare providers and healthcare organizations to understand and respond effectively to the cultural and linguistic needs brought by patients to the healthcare encounter. As demographics shift and participation in insurance programs changes, healthcare providers are treating a more diverse clientele. As a result, interest and demand increases for culturally and linguistically appropriate services that will lead to improved outcomes, efficiency, and satisfaction. The provision of culturally and linguistically appropriate services is in the interest of providers, policymakers, accreditation and credentialing agencies, purchasers, patients, advocates, educators and the general healthcare community. Assuring Cultural Competence in healthcare: Recommendations for National Standards and an Outcomes-Focused Research Agenda. Final Report http://www.omhrc.gov/clas/po.htm

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Enter text for rollover 3Dr. Josepha Campinha-Bacote defines cultural competence as "the process in which the healthcare provider continuously strives to achieve the ability to effectively work within the cultural context of a client (individual, family, or community)." Campinha-Bacote, J. (1998). The process of cultural competence in healthcare: A culturally competent model of care. (3rd ed). Cincinnati: Perfect Printing Press.

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Enter text for rollover 4Cultural competence is the ability "to respect and to understand some of the nuances in the belief systems of diverse peoples, especially about - but not limited to - illness and disease. Physicians also need to respect and to understand how different patients handle decision-making within their own contexts, their own families, their own traditions." (p. 10) In Like, R. C., Betancourt, J. R., Kountz, D.S., Lu, F. G., & Rios, E. (Winter, 2001/2002) A Medical Mosaic: Achieving Cultural Competency in Primary Care. Feature Forum. American Journal of Multicultural Medicine, Special Edition, 6-19.

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