The Need for Fairness in Healthcare
In a perfect world, healthcare access and provision would be fair for all people, regardless of ethnicity, race, religion, gender, socioeconomic status, geographic location, language, age, disability, and other variables. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. To help address disparities in healthcare and improve patient outcomes, here is some guidance for practicing patient-centered and culturally competent healthcare.
Cultural Competency in Healthcare
Culturally competent healthcare is the ability of providers to effectively address the health issues of diverse populations by applying knowledge, empathy, and understanding of cultural perspectives on health. Cultural factors can influence:
Implicit Bias in Healthcare
Implicit bias refers to unconscious judgments about patients based on irrelevant characteristics such as race or gender. These biases can affect healthcare providers’ attitudes, diagnoses, and treatment decisions. Such biases can lead to lower-quality care and contribute to disparities in health outcomes.
Social Determinants of Health (SDOH)
SDOH are non-medical factors (personal, social, and environmental) that impact health and well-being, including income, education, employment, housing, family relationships, and geographic location. These factors influence a patient’s risk for certain medical conditions and contribute to health disparities. Healthcare providers can help mitigate negative effects by asking patients social risk screening questions and adjusting clinical care to address SDOH.
The Impact of Cultural Competency on Healthcare Organizations
By fostering cultural competency, physicians can create an environment that demonstrates to patients that they are understood. By ensuring a fair and inclusive experience, physicians can increase patient satisfaction and deliver higher-quality care.
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