Diffusing the innovation of an online virtual grand rounds series using avatar videos for cultural competence training for healthcare providers: Responses to http://culturalcompetencetraining.org/

In contemporary times, great emphasis is placed upon the concept of the provision of mandatory organization-wide training in cultural competence. This emphasis includes concerns regarding avoiding malpractice lawsuits, as well as the stereotyping and stigmatization of patients associated with errors in decision making and the delivery of health care services. Deviation from standards of care that results from stigmatization and stereotyping can also constitute discrimination in health care service delivery, which can contribute to patient non-compliance, non-adherence, and health disparities. Accessible and high quality cultural competence training provided online in an engaging manner may represent a potential solution to this problem. This session depends upon an internet connection in order to expose participants to a website designed to diffuse the innovation of an online virtual grand rounds series using avatar videos for purposes of providing cultural competence training to healthcare providers: i.e., http://CulturalCompetenceTrentify aining.org/. The presentation includes exposure to sample excerpts of avatar videos hosted on the website that have been designed to deliver the innovation of a virtual grand rounds—as professional development. The presenter describes the process of creating scripts for the videos by drawing upon a body of personal published writing, other literature, and personal clinical experience as a practicing licensed (clinical) psychologist, trainer of trainers, and diversity consultant. Also discussed is the manner in which the virtual grand rounds series using avatar videos permits busy health care providers to access the online avatar videos providing training in cultural competence. The presentation includes discussion of the special populations at risk for stigmatization and stereotyping in the provision of healthcare—such as lesbian, bisexual, gay, transgender (LGBT) and men who have sex with men (MSM) populations, as well as racial and ethnic minorities—and how the first set of videos focuses on training for work with these groups. The presentation also covers the importance of the delivery of cultural competence training for those working with diverse special populations at risk for stigmatization and stereotyping, while enabling health care providers convenient easy access to online training; this includes the ability to back-up, re-play and repeat videos in order to facilitate understanding wherever providers can access an internet connection. The presentation conveys and summarizes important principles and standards for delivering health care to members of diverse special populations to ensure equity in health care service delivery. Finally, the presenter shares responses to the virtual grand round series and future directions in online training.