Definitions
So what’s an “underrepresented” group?
“Underrepresented in medicine means those racial
and ethnic populations that are underrepresented in
the medical profession relative to their numbers in
the general population.”
Institute of Medicine:
Unequal Treatment
“Disparities in the healthcare delivered to racial
and ethnic minorities are real and are associated
with worse outcomes in many cases, which is
unacceptable.”
Alan Nelson, M.D., Chair, Institute of Medicine Committee on Understanding and
Eliminating Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care, former president of the
American Medical Association, March 2002.
Accreditation Council for
Graduate Medical Education
The six general competencies:
• Medical Knowledge
• Patient Care
• Systems-Based Practice
• Practice-Based Learning and
Improvement
• Interpersonal & Communication Skills
• Professionalism
ACGME: Interpersonal and
Communication Skills
“Residents must demonstrate interpersonal and
communication skills that result in the effective
exchange of information and collaboration with
patients, their families, and health professionals.”
“Residents are expected to communicate
effectively with patients, families, and the public,
as appropriate, across a broad range of
socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds…”
ACGME: Professionalism
“Residents are expected to demonstrate:
1. compassion, integrity, and respect for others;
2. sensitivity and responsiveness to a diverse
patient population, including but not limited to
diversity in gender, age, culture, race, religion,
disabilities, and sexual orientation.”
The Joint Commission (JCAHO)
• “One Size Does Not Fit All: Diverse Populations
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Pose Special Health Needs”
Joint Commission Report Provides Tool to Assess
and Overcome Language, Cultural Barriers
Build a foundation
Collect and use data to improve services
Accommodate the needs of specific populations
Establish internal and external collaborations
http://www.jointcommission.org/NR/rdonlyres/88C2C901-6E4E-4570-95D8B49BD7F756CF/0/HLC_One_Size_PrePub.pdf
Liaison Committee on
Medical Education (LCME)
“Aspiring future physicians will be best
prepared for medical practice in a diverse
society if they learn in an environment
characterized by, and supportive of,
diversity and inclusion.”
http://www.lcme.org/standard.htm