Education Initiative
As the diversity of our community continues to change and develop, providing health care that is culturally sensitive goes to the heart of our mission as an organization. When we open ourselves to learn and understand the perspectives of other individuals, it creates a therapeutic environment in which knowledge transfer and acceptance can occur.
The communities that we serve are not just racially diverse but vary in terms of country of origin, primary language spoken, culture, religion and socio-economic status. Some local populations exhibit different health beliefs, practices and health seeking behaviors that are different from our Western medical practice.
The Center on Health Disparities will equip our community and providers with the necessary tools to provide care for our diverse community in a culturally sensitive way.
Culturally Competent Care
According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Office of Minority Health, 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.
Culturally Competent Care Training Modules
Culturally Competent Care training modules have been developed as a response to the challenges and opportunities that serving our very diverse, ethnic, racial and cultural community brings. This training targets our health services providers and support staff.
Our Culturally Competent Care training modules will address the following areas:
- Awareness of health and health care disparities in different populations.
- Exploration of subconscious biases, stereotypes and assumptions and how they play a part in the patient-provider relationship.
- Increase knowledge of health beliefs and practices of the ethnically diverse populations in our communities.
Qualified Bilingual Staff
The Qualified Bilingual Staff (QBS) training program was developed for the purpose of increasing our capability for providing linguistically appropriate services to our Limited English Proficient (LEP) patients. The program targets our bilingual, dual role staff and trains them in proper interpreting skills during a medical encounter. The program consists of a three day (24 hours) training that includes modules on the following:
- Ethics of Interpreting
- Legal and Regulatory Requirements
- Medical Terminology
- Cultural Competency
- Diversity
- Modes of Interpretation
- Managing the Session
- Transparency in a Patient-Provider Relationship
- Cultural Broker Role
- and practice, practice, practice.
Prior to participation in the training program, it is required that all applicants be tested through an oral exam to determine their level of language competency. Upon the successful passing of that test, participants are eligible for the three day training required to become certified as QBS Level 1 or Level 2.
- Level 1 - Applicant can speak at a conversational level only. Level 1 applicants will receive additional training on interpretation techniques and medical terminology to assist them in obtaining Level 2 status.
- Level 2 - Applicant understands basic interpretation and medical terminology, which is the level required for interpreting in an exam room.
Our certified trainers for the QBS training program are: