Cultural Diversity in the U.S. Healthcare

      United States has continually to become more diverse demographically, with racial and ethnic minorities, predictable to become most of the U.S. population by 2042. A culturally competent system of care acknowledges and incorporates–at all levels–the importance of culture and ethics, the assessment of cross-cultural relations, vigilance towards the dynamics that result from cultural differences, the expansion of cultural knowledge and the adaptation of services to meet culturally unique needs. Cultural competence may be viewed as a goal toward which agencies can strive. Accordingly, becoming culturally competent is a developmental process. I also think no matter how proficient an agency may become, there will always be room for growth. It is a process that the system of care can measure its progress according to the agency’s achievement of specific developmental tasks.  By having a better understanding of our patient populations, we can provide culturally appropriate health care that better meets their unique needs.