The importance of cultural competence in health care

Hazel Editorial Team

Editorial Team

Cultural competency refers to the ability to provide care to patients with diverse values, beliefs, and behaviors, including tailoring health care delivery to meet patients' social, cultural, and linguistic needs. A culturally competent provider understands, appreciates, and respects their patient's cultural background. To be culturally competent is more than being aware of cultural differences. It is the ability to understand, communicate, and effectively interact with people across cultures.

The importance of cultural competence

In health care delivery, practicing cultural competence means adapting care to fit the patient's social, cultural, and language needs. An individual's (or their family's) cultural background affects their health beliefs, treatment/healing practices, and how they view and navigate the health care system. When medical providers understand these beliefs, values, traditions, and practices, they are more likely to foster adherence and trust, resulting in increased patient satisfaction, improved health outcomes, and reduced health disparities.

Per the CDC, the principles of cultural competence include:

Define culture broadly
Value clients' cultural beliefs
Recognize complexity in language interpretation
Facilitate learning between providers and communities
Involve the community in defining and addressing service needs
Collaborate with other agencies
Professionalize staff hiring and training
Institutionalize cultural competence

In the United States, patients of color are less likely than White patients to report being the same race as their healthcare providers. 22.2% of Black adults report being the same race as their health care provider, compared to 73.8% of White adults. Additionally, less than one in four, or 23.1% of Hispanic/Latinx adults, report sharing a racial, ethnic, or language background with their usual health provider.

Research supports that patients prefer providers who understand their unique needs–one study from Stanford University found that Black men were more likely to talk about their symptoms and concerns with a black doctor. Another study found that Hispanic people in the US often delay going to the doctor because they do not understand how to navigate the healthcare system.

These disparities have negative implications for patient health outcomes and patient-provider relationships. To reduce these disparities, providers must consider their patients' social and cultural backgrounds and put a critical emphasis on understanding a person's unique culture and how it contributes to how they experience health care.

“When we’re sick, we’re at our most vulnerable state. It is essential to be able to connect with someone who looks like us, someone who talks like us, and someone who understands us.”
- Marie-Claire Timothee, Hazel Health Physician Associate

In pediatric care delivery, cultural competence goes a long way. It's helpful for children to have access to providers that look, speak, and share values similar to theirs. A culturally competent provider makes the child feel more comfortable and open to sharing their feelings and symptoms, and makes the family feel more comfortable in seeking care.

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How cultural competence influences health outcomes

Culturally competent care is a powerful tool that providers can practice to ensure all patients get the care they deserve. Practicing cultural competence care in health care can lead to the following:

Increased patient safety and engagement
Reduced care disparities
Improved health outcomes
Enriched patient experience

Cultural competency breaks down barriers and enables improved communication between providers and patients. To best refine their cultural competence, healthcare providers should consider offering interpreter services, recruiting minority staff, and offering cultural competence training.

A lack of cultural competence can significantly impact a provider's ability to care for their patients effectively. Whether a language or a cultural barrier, medical professionals must take steps to strengthen their cultural competence and emphasize this essential component of effective care delivery.

A culturally competent provider has the following:

An understanding of their own culture (it's difficult to understand another's culture if you don't understand your own)
A willingness and desire to learn about the culture and worldviews of others
A positive and inclusive attitude towards cultural differences and a readiness to respect and work to understand those differences

Cultural competency at Hazel Health

At Hazel, we believe every child deserves to be seen, heard, and cared for, and we know that to achieve the goal of equitable care, our providers must reflect and understand the communities they serve. Our care team includes diverse mental and physical health providers who are experts in the needs of children and teens.

Over 50% of Hazel providers identify as BIPOC, and over 40% of Hazel providers are bilingual. Hazel providers speak over 15 languages, which enhances communication between the child and their Hazel provider, ensuring nothing is lost in translation or misunderstood due to a language barrier.

Hazel Editorial Team

Editorial Team

Cultural competency refers to the ability to provide care to patients with diverse values, beliefs, and behaviors, including tailoring health care delivery to meet patients' social, cultural, and linguistic needs. A culturally competent provider understands, appreciates, and respects their patient's cultural background. To be culturally competent is more than being aware of cultural differences. It is the ability to understand, communicate, and effectively interact with people across cultures.

The importance of cultural competence

In health care delivery, practicing cultural competence means adapting care to fit the patient's social, cultural, and language needs. An individual's (or their family's) cultural background affects their health beliefs, treatment/healing practices, and how they view and navigate the health care system. When medical providers understand these beliefs, values, traditions, and practices, they are more likely to foster adherence and trust, resulting in increased patient satisfaction, improved health outcomes, and reduced health disparities.

Per the CDC, the principles of cultural competence include:

Define culture broadly
Value clients' cultural beliefs
Recognize complexity in language interpretation
Facilitate learning between providers and communities
Involve the community in defining and addressing service needs
Collaborate with other agencies
Professionalize staff hiring and training
Institutionalize cultural competence

In the United States, patients of color are less likely than White patients to report being the same race as their healthcare providers. 22.2% of Black adults report being the same race as their health care provider, compared to 73.8% of White adults. Additionally, less than one in four, or 23.1% of Hispanic/Latinx adults, report sharing a racial, ethnic, or language background with their usual health provider.

Research supports that patients prefer providers who understand their unique needs–one study from Stanford University found that Black men were more likely to talk about their symptoms and concerns with a black doctor. Another study found that Hispanic people in the US often delay going to the doctor because they do not understand how to navigate the healthcare system.

These disparities have negative implications for patient health outcomes and patient-provider relationships. To reduce these disparities, providers must consider their patients' social and cultural backgrounds and put a critical emphasis on understanding a person's unique culture and how it contributes to how they experience health care.

“When we’re sick, we’re at our most vulnerable state. It is essential to be able to connect with someone who looks like us, someone who talks like us, and someone who understands us.”
- Marie-Claire Timothee, Hazel Health Physician Associate

In pediatric care delivery, cultural competence goes a long way. It's helpful for children to have access to providers that look, speak, and share values similar to theirs. A culturally competent provider makes the child feel more comfortable and open to sharing their feelings and symptoms, and makes the family feel more comfortable in seeking care.

‍

How cultural competence influences health outcomes

Culturally competent care is a powerful tool that providers can practice to ensure all patients get the care they deserve. Practicing cultural competence care in health care can lead to the following:

Increased patient safety and engagement
Reduced care disparities
Improved health outcomes
Enriched patient experience

Cultural competency breaks down barriers and enables improved communication between providers and patients. To best refine their cultural competence, healthcare providers should consider offering interpreter services, recruiting minority staff, and offering cultural competence training.

A lack of cultural competence can significantly impact a provider's ability to care for their patients effectively. Whether a language or a cultural barrier, medical professionals must take steps to strengthen their cultural competence and emphasize this essential component of effective care delivery.

A culturally competent provider has the following:

An understanding of their own culture (it's difficult to understand another's culture if you don't understand your own)
A willingness and desire to learn about the culture and worldviews of others
A positive and inclusive attitude towards cultural differences and a readiness to respect and work to understand those differences

Cultural competency at Hazel Health

At Hazel, we believe every child deserves to be seen, heard, and cared for, and we know that to achieve the goal of equitable care, our providers must reflect and understand the communities they serve. Our care team includes diverse mental and physical health providers who are experts in the needs of children and teens.

Over 50% of Hazel providers identify as BIPOC, and over 40% of Hazel providers are bilingual. Hazel providers speak over 15 languages, which enhances communication between the child and their Hazel provider, ensuring nothing is lost in translation or misunderstood due to a language barrier.

Hazel Editorial Team

Editorial Team

Cultural competency refers to the ability to provide care to patients with diverse values, beliefs, and behaviors, including tailoring health care delivery to meet patients' social, cultural, and linguistic needs. A culturally competent provider understands, appreciates, and respects their patient's cultural background. To be culturally competent is more than being aware of cultural differences. It is the ability to understand, communicate, and effectively interact with people across cultures.

The importance of cultural competence

In health care delivery, practicing cultural competence means adapting care to fit the patient's social, cultural, and language needs. An individual's (or their family's) cultural background affects their health beliefs, treatment/healing practices, and how they view and navigate the health care system. When medical providers understand these beliefs, values, traditions, and practices, they are more likely to foster adherence and trust, resulting in increased patient satisfaction, improved health outcomes, and reduced health disparities.

Per the CDC, the principles of cultural competence include:

Define culture broadly
Value clients' cultural beliefs
Recognize complexity in language interpretation
Facilitate learning between providers and communities
Involve the community in defining and addressing service needs
Collaborate with other agencies
Professionalize staff hiring and training
Institutionalize cultural competence

In the United States, patients of color are less likely than White patients to report being the same race as their healthcare providers. 22.2% of Black adults report being the same race as their health care provider, compared to 73.8% of White adults. Additionally, less than one in four, or 23.1% of Hispanic/Latinx adults, report sharing a racial, ethnic, or language background with their usual health provider.

Research supports that patients prefer providers who understand their unique needs–one study from Stanford University found that Black men were more likely to talk about their symptoms and concerns with a black doctor. Another study found that Hispanic people in the US often delay going to the doctor because they do not understand how to navigate the healthcare system.

These disparities have negative implications for patient health outcomes and patient-provider relationships. To reduce these disparities, providers must consider their patients' social and cultural backgrounds and put a critical emphasis on understanding a person's unique culture and how it contributes to how they experience health care.

“When we’re sick, we’re at our most vulnerable state. It is essential to be able to connect with someone who looks like us, someone who talks like us, and someone who understands us.”
- Marie-Claire Timothee, Hazel Health Physician Associate

In pediatric care delivery, cultural competence goes a long way. It's helpful for children to have access to providers that look, speak, and share values similar to theirs. A culturally competent provider makes the child feel more comfortable and open to sharing their feelings and symptoms, and makes the family feel more comfortable in seeking care.

‍

How cultural competence influences health outcomes

Culturally competent care is a powerful tool that providers can practice to ensure all patients get the care they deserve. Practicing cultural competence care in health care can lead to the following:

Increased patient safety and engagement
Reduced care disparities
Improved health outcomes
Enriched patient experience

Cultural competency breaks down barriers and enables improved communication between providers and patients. To best refine their cultural competence, healthcare providers should consider offering interpreter services, recruiting minority staff, and offering cultural competence training.

A lack of cultural competence can significantly impact a provider's ability to care for their patients effectively. Whether a language or a cultural barrier, medical professionals must take steps to strengthen their cultural competence and emphasize this essential component of effective care delivery.

A culturally competent provider has the following:

An understanding of their own culture (it's difficult to understand another's culture if you don't understand your own)
A willingness and desire to learn about the culture and worldviews of others
A positive and inclusive attitude towards cultural differences and a readiness to respect and work to understand those differences

Cultural competency at Hazel Health

At Hazel, we believe every child deserves to be seen, heard, and cared for, and we know that to achieve the goal of equitable care, our providers must reflect and understand the communities they serve. Our care team includes diverse mental and physical health providers who are experts in the needs of children and teens.

Over 50% of Hazel providers identify as BIPOC, and over 40% of Hazel providers are bilingual. Hazel providers speak over 15 languages, which enhances communication between the child and their Hazel provider, ensuring nothing is lost in translation or misunderstood due to a language barrier.

Cultural competency refers to the ability to provide care to patients with diverse values, beliefs, and behaviors, including tailoring health care delivery to meet patients' social, cultural, and linguistic needs. A culturally competent provider understands, appreciates, and respects their patient's cultural background. To be culturally competent is more than being aware of cultural differences. It is the ability to understand, communicate, and effectively interact with people across cultures.

The importance of cultural competence

In health care delivery, practicing cultural competence means adapting care to fit the patient's social, cultural, and language needs. An individual's (or their family's) cultural background affects their health beliefs, treatment/healing practices, and how they view and navigate the health care system. When medical providers understand these beliefs, values, traditions, and practices, they are more likely to foster adherence and trust, resulting in increased patient satisfaction, improved health outcomes, and reduced health disparities.

Per the CDC, the principles of cultural competence include:

Define culture broadly
Value clients' cultural beliefs
Recognize complexity in language interpretation
Facilitate learning between providers and communities
Involve the community in defining and addressing service needs
Collaborate with other agencies
Professionalize staff hiring and training
Institutionalize cultural competence

In the United States, patients of color are less likely than White patients to report being the same race as their healthcare providers. 22.2% of Black adults report being the same race as their health care provider, compared to 73.8% of White adults. Additionally, less than one in four, or 23.1% of Hispanic/Latinx adults, report sharing a racial, ethnic, or language background with their usual health provider.

Research supports that patients prefer providers who understand their unique needs–one study from Stanford University found that Black men were more likely to talk about their symptoms and concerns with a black doctor. Another study found that Hispanic people in the US often delay going to the doctor because they do not understand how to navigate the healthcare system.

These disparities have negative implications for patient health outcomes and patient-provider relationships. To reduce these disparities, providers must consider their patients' social and cultural backgrounds and put a critical emphasis on understanding a person's unique culture and how it contributes to how they experience health care.

“When we’re sick, we’re at our most vulnerable state. It is essential to be able to connect with someone who looks like us, someone who talks like us, and someone who understands us.”
- Marie-Claire Timothee, Hazel Health Physician Associate

In pediatric care delivery, cultural competence goes a long way. It's helpful for children to have access to providers that look, speak, and share values similar to theirs. A culturally competent provider makes the child feel more comfortable and open to sharing their feelings and symptoms, and makes the family feel more comfortable in seeking care.

‍

How cultural competence influences health outcomes

Culturally competent care is a powerful tool that providers can practice to ensure all patients get the care they deserve. Practicing cultural competence care in health care can lead to the following:

Increased patient safety and engagement
Reduced care disparities
Improved health outcomes
Enriched patient experience

Cultural competency breaks down barriers and enables improved communication between providers and patients. To best refine their cultural competence, healthcare providers should consider offering interpreter services, recruiting minority staff, and offering cultural competence training.

A lack of cultural competence can significantly impact a provider's ability to care for their patients effectively. Whether a language or a cultural barrier, medical professionals must take steps to strengthen their cultural competence and emphasize this essential component of effective care delivery.

A culturally competent provider has the following:

An understanding of their own culture (it's difficult to understand another's culture if you don't understand your own)
A willingness and desire to learn about the culture and worldviews of others
A positive and inclusive attitude towards cultural differences and a readiness to respect and work to understand those differences

Cultural competency at Hazel Health

At Hazel, we believe every child deserves to be seen, heard, and cared for, and we know that to achieve the goal of equitable care, our providers must reflect and understand the communities they serve. Our care team includes diverse mental and physical health providers who are experts in the needs of children and teens.

Over 50% of Hazel providers identify as BIPOC, and over 40% of Hazel providers are bilingual. Hazel providers speak over 15 languages, which enhances communication between the child and their Hazel provider, ensuring nothing is lost in translation or misunderstood due to a language barrier.

On the value of having a provider of the same race

“I was feeling apprehensive. I wasn’t sure if I was making the right decision for my kids. They were not on board at first with therapy. It went really well. The Hazel therapist was wonderful! It was a lot easier than I thought. The therapist was so easy to talk to. I was thrilled that she is a Black woman. I was hoping for a doctor that my children can relate to. I’m incredibly grateful for her, and this program.”

Parent of a high school student,
Aurora Public Schools

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Prioritizing cultural competency across settings

Practicing cultural competence is paramount in promoting healthy development in children of all ages. It is essential to provide high-quality care to patients of all backgrounds, especially those from historically marginalized communities.

“Cultural competence improves interpersonal interactions, helps to build trust, conveys respect, reduces biases that may lead to inaccurate diagnoses and treatments, and increases the chances that patients may be more compliant with the medical recommendations given."
- Dr. Luz Maria Garcini, assistant professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences at Rice University, faculty scholar for the Center of the United States and Mexico, Baker Institute for Public Policy

Providers must develop an awareness of their implicit biases and an understanding of how an individual's cultural background influences how they experience health care. Until providers are culturally competent, healthcare in the United States will not be equitable, and disparities will continue to persist.

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About Hazel

Hazel Health, the leader in school-based telehealth, partners with school districts to provide mental and physical health services to K-12 students where they are–at school or home. Hazel’s diverse, culturally competent providers specialize in the health challenges of children and teens and partner with parents and school staff to make the best care decisions for students. Hazel is committed to improving health care equity and is available regardless of family income, geography, insurance status, or ability to pay. Hazel’s mission is to transform children’s access to health care, because when students feel better, they learn better.

Learn more at hazel.co.

About Hazel

Hazel Health is the nation’s largest and most trusted provider of school-based telehealth. By partnering with districts and health plans across the country, Hazel transforms schools into the most accessible front door to pediatric healthcare. Today, Hazel’s licensed providers deliver teletherapy and virtual care (in school or at home) to over four million K-12 students, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay. Hazel aims to remove all barriers to the mental and physical health care that children need to thrive: in school, at home, and in life.

Learn more at hazel.co.

About Hazel

Hazel Health, the leader in school-based telehealth, partners with school districts to provide mental and physical health services to K-12 students where they are–at school or home. Hazel serves nearly 2 million students across 100 school districts, helping to reduce chronic absenteeism and unfinished learning by addressing gaps in health care access. As an extension of the school health team, Hazel helps schools immediately address student physical and mental health care needs. Hazel’s mission is to transform children’s access to health care because when students feel better, they learn better.

Learn more at Hazel.co/hazel-in-schools.

About Hazel

Hazel Health, the leader in school-based telehealth, partners with school districts to provide mental and physical health services to K-12 students where they are–at school or home. Hazel helps school districts address chronic absenteeism, unfinished learning, and school enrollment, by addressing gaps in health care access.

Learn more at Hazel.co/hazel-in-schools.

About Hazel

Hazel Health, the leader in school-based telehealth, partners with school districts and families to provide mental and physical health services to K-12 students where they are–at school or home. Instead of waiting for an appointment with a doctor or therapist, children can see a Hazel provider for a telehealth visit, at no cost to families. With guardian permission, Hazel’s telehealth platform allows children to connect with a health care provider within minutes, or a therapist within days of referral. Hazel’s providers can help with everything from allergies and stomach aches to anxiety and depression. With Hazel, children can get the care they need when they need it.

Learn more at Hazel.co/how-hazel-works.

About Hazel

Hazel Health, the leader in school-based telehealth, partners with school districts and families to provide mental and physical health services to K-12 students where they are–at school or home. At no cost, and regardless of insurance status, Hazel’s providers can help with everything from allergies and stomach aches to anxiety and depression. With Hazel, children can get the care they need when they need it.

Learn more at Hazel.co/how-hazel-works.