Welcome to the Cultural Competency in Healthcare libguide.
"Cultural and linguistic competence is a set of congruent behaviors, attitudes, and policies that come together in a system, agency, or among professionals that enables effective work in cross-cultural situations. 'Culture' refers to integrated patterns of human behavior that include the language, thoughts, communications, actions, customs, beliefs, values, and institutions of racial, ethnic, religious, or social groups. 'Competence' implies having the capacity to function effectively as an individual and an organization within the context of the cultural beliefs, behaviors, and needs presented by consumers and their communities. (Adapted from Cross, 1989)." United States Department of Health and Human Services, The Office of Minority Health. What is Cultural Competency? Retrieved May 8, 2014, from http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/templates/browse.aspx?lvl=2&lvlID=11
This guide represents a collaborative effort between the library and the Office of Multicultural Affairs. The purpose of this guide is to complement and provide additional resources in support of the Diversity Health Series. The Diversity Health Series was developed by Kaiser Permanente and is used as a teaching tool at Des Moines University. Additionally, resources are available to support respective DMU programs in culturally competent health care education. For more information please contact the Dr. Rich Salas at 515-271-1709.