Cultural Diversity

Faces of Marianjoy Cooking with Culture

Did You Know? Did You Know? series is published by your Marianjoy Diversity Strategy Team. We would welcome any suggestions from you. Did You Know? April, 2012 Did You Know? January, 2012 Past Issues Need Help? Use the Quick Reference card to locate the information you need. Interactive World Map National Library of Medicine Click the globe to learn about some of the languages spoken in the world and health Information avialble in Multiple Languages.

Diversity Wheel “The Wheel shows the combinations of all of the dimensions that influence our values, beliefs, behaviours, experiences and expectations. A useful tool to assist others in understanding the complexities of what makes us all different.” More>>> Image source: Washington State University

Culture

"Culture refers to norms and practices of a particular group that are learned and shared and guide thinking, decisions, and actions. Cultural values the individual's desirable or preferred way of acting or knowing something that is sustained over a period of time and which governs actions or decisions."

Cultural sensitivity

"Understanding the needs and emotions of your own culture and the culture of others."

Cultural Competence

"Cultural Competence is the ongoing capacity of health systems and professionals to provide for diverse populations, high quality of care that is safe, family-and patient- centered, evidence based and equitable."    

National Quality Forum

Culture and Health

• Questions & Answer
  Tips on providing equitable treatment regardless of culture

• Quality and Culture Quiz

You can examine your own cultural competence by taking our Quality and Culture Quiz. Please note that this quiz is not a "test!" Your answers will not be shared with anyone. A high score on this quiz does not "certify" or qualify you as a culturally competent provider! on providing equitable treatment regardless of culture.

• Resource Guides

Web sites, organizations, listservs, and other information sources

• Talking about Culture and Health
  Tips on providing equitable treatment regardless of culture

Culturally and linguistically appropriate health care

• Diversity Rx
  Standards of practice for medical interpreters dealing with diverse patient populations
• National Standards on Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS)
  U.S. Office of Minority Health Recommended standards for culturally and linguistically appropriate health care. Make sure to visit the Cultural Competency Section.
• National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health Care (Executive Summary)
  

Health Disparities

Health disparities refer to differences between groups of people. These differences can affect how frequently a disease affects a group, how many people get sick, or how often the disease causes death.

• Health Disparities (CDC)
• Health Disparities (MedlinePlus)
• National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)
• HRET Disparities Toolkit: Nuts and Bolts of Collecting Race, Ethnicity, and Primary Language Information From Patients

Health resources for minorities

• Minority Women’s Health
  Rresources focused on minority women, including African American, Hispanic, American Indian and Asian, from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• National Alliance for Hispanic Health
  Advocacy, research and health reform organization focused on improving the health and well-being of Hispanics
• Office of Minority Health
  Database search engine from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (also en Español)
• Office of Health Disparities 
  Up-to-date information on health issues concerning women, ethnic and racial populations, and other special populations from the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (also en Español)
• Intercultural Cancer Council
  Cancer fact sheets discussing disparities in services and treatment for medically undeserved populations

For additional information, stop by, call us at (630) 909-7090 or e-mail library staff