Cultural Awareness Assessment and Training
Every patient is an individual who is influenced by his or her culture and who possesses a unique individual perspective about health and illness. For any given interaction with the health care system, a patient interacts with numerous individuals. Whether their contact is with a receptionist, billing clerk, lab technician, nurse or physician, the patient’s experience of that interaction is likely to impact how they respond, including whether they return and whether they comply with treatment recommendations. Employee awareness and sensitivity toward the cultural and linguistic needs of an increasingly diverse population is essential to ensuring a positive patient encounter.
Cultural Awareness Assessment
The Office of Community Programs (OCP) is able to perform a comprehensive cultural awareness assessment for healthcare organizations which can include components such as:
- Employee and Board member interviews
- Policy and procedure review
- Observations of patient interactions
- Summary report of opportunities and recommendations for improving cultural awareness
Upon completion of the assessment, OCP can provide staff training on cultural awareness issues and proven strategies for addressing them.
Cultural Awareness Training
As a division of the medical school, OCP is an active participant in medical Grand Rounds, providing cultural awareness training to hospital affiliated physicians and medical students. In addition, we routinely provide training to Board members and employees of all levels within an organization. These trainings cover topics such as:
- How culture affects a person’s view of health care.
- Cultural beliefs that might clash with traditional health care views.
- How to effectively work with an interpreter.
Learn More!
View instructional DVD Culture and Connexions: Understanding Your Patients
To speak with our program director about our cultural awareness assessment and training services, contact Lisa Morris at lisa.morris@umassmed.edu