Cultural Competence in Health Care: A Systems Approach

Build organizational and clinical skills to deliver equitable care to diverse populations

The second edition of Cultural Competence in Health Care: A Systems Approach presents the growing evidence base for a systems approach to cultural competence and strategic diversity management in health care and explains how health care professionals and organizations can use that knowledge to ensure that every patient receives high-quality, safe, and cost-effective personalized health care. The impact of race and ethnicity, gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, age, language, socioeconomic status, and religion on health and health care are discussed.

Despite the current challenges, private sector organizations that accredit health care providers, health plans, and educational programs in medicine, nursing, and allied health continue to affirm the need for cultural competence through their accreditation criteria. Voluntary health care professional associations continue to provide membership with support, encouragement, and resources for the delivery of culturally and linguistically competent health care. And health care providers strive every day to deliver personalized care and work diligently to improve their patients' health by delivering health care in a manner that is respectful of each patient's needs and preferences.

Written by the same three nationally known scholars and experts as the first edition, the second edition presents principles and practices that can be realistically incorporated into the ongoing work of any health care provider or organization. Each chapter contains learning objectives, summary, key terms, and review questions and activities designed to allow the reader to explore, analyze, and apply concepts and practices identified throughout the text.

Janice L. Dreachslin, PhD, Professor Emerita of Health Policy and Administration, Penn State University, authored numerous publications in diversity leadership and cultural competence and has garnered awards and recognition for her work.

M. Jean Gilbert, PhD, applied medical anthropologist, made significant contributions to Kaiser Permanente’s nationally recognized cultural competence curriculum and served on the CLAS Standards advisory panel.

Beverly L. Malone, PhD, RN, FAAN, President and CEO of the National League for Nursing, is the recipient of numerous honors and is recognized among the nation’s leading health care executives. Her distinguished career has mixed policy, education, administration, and clinical practice.