Culturally competent healthcare

The healthcare system is steadily becoming more diverse at an alarming pace brought on by multiple refugee crises, employment opportunities, environmental factors, educational purposes, and reuniting with families. Therefore, healthcare providers, healthcare delivery systems, and policymakers must create and deliver culturally competent services. Providing culturally competent healthcare allows the providers and the healthcare system to effectively deliver services that meet social, cultural, and linguistic needs. Research has shown that providing culturally competent healthcare improves patient health outcomes and delivers quality care that reduces racial and ethnic health disparities. Most healthcare professionals work very hard under challenging conditions to ensure that patients receive the best possible healthcare. However, multiple studies have shown that biases, prejudice, and stereotyping on the part of healthcare providers or the system influence care delivery.