Improving care and interactions with racially and ethnically diverse populations in healthcare organizations

The need for healthcare managers to develop strategies that address culturally appropriate care for racial and ethnic populations continues to grow in importance. Healthcare organizations within the United States serve a range of diverse people, but they are not adequately meeting the needs of specific populations. Cultural and linguistic barriers are posing problems for an industry that is already financially strained. If strategies to provide more culturally appropriate care are not implemented, financial pressures will continue to rise and quality of care will suffer. Healthcare organizations can and should promote cultural competence among their physicians and employees. This article attempts to define the scope of the problem through literature and case studies. It also offers healthcare managers strategies for improving cultural understanding and competency within their organization.