Cross-Cultural

Each year, our Medical Interpreter Training program trains health care workers, who collectively speak more than 20 languages, to serve as multilingual and multicultural interpreters in a health care setting. This program - one of the first of its kind in the nation - ensures that patients with limited English proficiency receive equal access to health care. Complementing this program are our Language Link interpreter services and document translation services for medical literature provided to Medicaid members. Each document is translated for accuracy and clarity, with sensitivity to literacy levels and cultural factors.

In addition, we offer broad cross-cultural training and skill teaching to staff of all levels and backgrounds, promoting a better understanding of the diverse cultures served. Our physician and medical professional staff training programs at the Center for Health Policy and Research's Center for Clinical Communications and Performance Outcomes help ensure health care providers are equipped with the skills necessary to effectively communicate with patients from many diverse backgrounds, without compromising care.

Increasingly health care organizations are identifying gaps in cultural understanding, but lack the internal resources to close them. Our consultants help hospitals, health centers and human service agencies improve staff skills by providing data, training and technical assistance to ensure services provided are both culturally and linguistically appropriate.

We believe self-assessment of one's own culture, biases, stereotypes and perspectives is critical, as well as understanding of the culture-specific values, morés, beliefs and behaviors of various populations.  We do not narrowly define culture, but recognize that differences in sexual orientation, age and gender, and religion also bring different perspectives.