Cultural Competence in Health Care

Abstract

Consequently, speech-language pathologists and audiologists working in the health care setting must be prepared to provided services that are respectful of and responsive to cultural and linguistic needs of a diverse patient population. For instance, health care disparities in racial and ethnic minorities in the United States can no longer be discounted or ignored. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) Report, Unequal Treatment, summarized a growing body of literature documenting racial or ethnic differences in health care outcomes for many different diagnoses including coronary artery disease, diabetes, cancer, and HIV. Health care providers have to overcome cultural and communication barriers that may negatively influence appropriate diagnosis and treatment, provide culturally competent health care, and create health care systems that provide equitable access to all clients/patients.