Culturally Competent Care
Communicating Across Cultural Boundaries
4/13/2015
VNA Care Network & Hospice
Before we begin . . .
Culture is deeply personal.
 Respect difference.
 Distinguish “generalizing”
from “stereotyping.”
And now . . .
We’re pleased to meet you!
Setting the Stage:
Who we are & why we’re here
Cathy Romeo
Cultural Competency Program, VNA Care Network & Hospice
Marilyn Gardner, RN
Clinical Liaison, Care Coordination Program, MDPH
4/13/2015
VNA Care Network & Hospice
Evaluation Summary & Next Steps
October 8, 2010
Mount Auburn Hospital Diversity Committee
 Review of Barriers, Tools, Resources
 Evaluation summary through pictures
 Evaluation summary through words
 Next steps – what may work
Barriers that impede cross-cultural
interactions . . .
. . . why isn’t this easier?
 Cultural Blindness
 Cultural Shock
 Cultural Conflict
 Cultural Imposition
 Ethnocentrism
 Racism & Discrimination
4/13/2015
VNA Care Network & Hospice
Breaking Down the Barriers
(CLAS, US/HHS, IOM, MetroWest Foundation
& Harvard School of Public Health Report, etc.)
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4/13/2015
Promote cultural self-awareness
Train providers in cultural competency
Improve cross-cultural communication
Recruit diverse staff
Identify client/community needs or gaps
Listen to voices from the community
ASK!
VNA Care Network & Hospice
To build communication
bridges, ASK!
Don’t assume . . .
“ASK!”
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Acknowledge what we don’t know.
Seek the knowledge we need.
Know the comfort of culture for everyone!
(Consult resources on cross-cultural
communication & interviewing techniques.)
Practical and Attainable Steps and
Resources for Cultural Competency
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Celebrate, value and share culture.
Survey staff, identify key cultural informants.
Listen to ‘Community Voices’ (Diversity
Council); plan WITH, not for, the community.
Learn about cultural health practices.
 Seek to understand both the rationale and
the meaning behind the practices.
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4/13/2015
ASK! Don’t assume.
Identify cultural needs, such as visual and
translated pain scale.
Cultural profiles, books and Internet sites.
VNA Care Network & Hospice
Possible Next Steps
 Beliefs & Barriers Panel (longer time needed)
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3 person panel
General and disease specific questions
Generous time allotment for discussion
 Organizational & Self Assessments
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Conducting a Cultural Competence Self-Assessment
Andrulis, Dennis
et al. http://erc.msh.org/provider/andrulis.pdf
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National Center for Cultural Competence
Cultural Competence Health Practitioner Assessment
https://www4.georgetown.edu/uis/keybridge/keyform/form.c
fm?formID=277
 Questions or final thoughts?
Other Resources
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http://www.eperc.mcw.edu Gordon & Bidar-Sielaff. “Cultural Aspects of Pain
Management.” Fast Facts, July 2006. End of Life/Palliative Education Resource Center.
Cultural Competence in Cancer Care: A Health Professional’s Passport. 2006: Baylor
College of Medicine.
http://nurseweb.ucsf.edu/public/npress/ord-culture.htm Culture and Clinical Care.
Winner of a Book of the Year Award from the American Journal of Nursing.
http://www.socialworkers.org/practice/standards/NASWCulturalStandards.pdf
http://www.youtube.com/user/TAHITOnline#p/a/u/0/UBLuaoGXOBg PSA, Texas
Association of Healthcare Interpreters and Translators.
 Cathy Romeo, Cultural Competency Program
VNA Care Network & Hospice
(888) 663-3688, Ext. 4528; cromeo@vnacarenetwork.org
 Marilyn Gardner, Care Coordination Program
MA Department of Public Health
(617) 624-5408; marilyn.gardner@state.ma.us