NQF details cultural-competency practices

The National Quality Forum has endorsed a set of 45 cultural competency practices intended to help providers offer culturally appropriate, patient-centered care. The practices are intended to help providers cut disparities in care between different groups.

Right now, racial and ethnic groups such as African-Americans, Alaska Natives and Native Americans continue to have disproportionately high rates of heart disease and diabetes, lower life expectancies and higher infant mortality rates, the NQF says.

The practices focus primarily on community engagement, communication and training--including determining the language needs of a patient at the first point of contact and reassessing that need over time--training your workforce to address cultural needs, and maintaining current demographic and cultural profiles of communities you serve.

To learn more about the NQF's proposals:
- read this Modern Healthcare piece [1] (reg. req.)

Related Articles:
UnitedHealthcare offers racial disparity education [2]
Racial disparities persist in health outcomes [3]
Study: Hispanics get lower-quality medical care [4]
Do women pay more for health insurance? [5]