5191.0: Wednesday, November 15, 2000 - 3:35 PM

Abstract #11870

Institute for Cross Cultural Competence: Improving quality of health care to diverse populations

Patricia Ann Mc Partland, EdD, CHES, Director, Southeastern Massachusetts Area Health Education Center, Inc, P.O. Box 69, Marion, MA 02738, (508) 748-0837, smahec@tiac.net

This presentation describes an approach one organization used to improve quality of care to diverse populations. At the conclusion of the session, participants will be able to : recognize the need for all staff to be culturally competent,identify eight indicators of culturally competent staff and facility and articulate a planning process that improves health access for diverse populations. It describes the lessons learned from the Institute's past five years. It addresses how we formed the collaborative, removed barriers,identified needs, obtained support, interest and participation. Though the Institutes' focus on regional concerns its management, planning, organizational techniques and curriculum can be replicated throughout the world. The increasingly diverse population has implications on the design, planning, development, implementation and marketing of health services. The Institutes' purpose and all its follow-up programs are to bring together representatives from higher education, health care and human service to build upon progress in implementing cross-cultural training programs for health and human service throughout our region. Its goals are to raise consciousness of one's own cultural experiences and prejudices, build a database for future training, discover interventions to support diversity and create lasting networks for cultural training. The Institutes are the result of an extensive needs assessment, market analysis and negotiations.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participants will be able to : 1. Recognize the need for all staff to be culturally competent. 2. Identify eight indicators of a culturally competent staff and facility. 3. Articulate a planning process that improves health access for diverse populations

Keywords: Health Care Access, Minorities

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: none
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

The 128th Annual Meeting of APHA