Cultural Competency and Health Literacy

Cultural competency and health literacy initiatives promote health equity and reduce health disparities by increasing access to health care services and improving the quality of care provided. A comprehensive cultural competency and health literacy strategy must include interventions tailored to the unique needs of our region. The AHI Performing Provider System (PPS) Cultural Competency and Health Literacy Strategy outlines a plan for increasing cultural competence and health literacy at all levels throughout our nine-county service area.

99 Percent of Americans Can Read
But ONLY 12% Are Health Literate

Because of Poor Health Literacy – 50% OF PATIENTS…

…leave their doctor appointments NOT KNOWING what they were told or what they are supposed to do.

Cultural Competency

The enhanced 2013 National CLAS (Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services) Standards for Health and Health Care refer to culture as the integrated pattern of thoughts, communications, actions, customs, beliefs, values, and institutions associated, wholly or partially, with racial, ethnic, or linguistic groups, as well as with religious, spiritual, biological, geographical or sociological characteristics.

Cultural competence is a set of congruent behaviors, attitudes, and policies that come together in a system, agency or among professionals, enabling that system, agency or those professions to work effectively in cross-cultural situations.

When health care organizations prioritize providing culturally-competent care, they are demonstrating their commitment to treating the individuals they serve with respect, empathy, and dignity, regardless of cultural differences.

Cultural Competency and Health Literacy Strategy
AHI PPS Cultural Competency and Health Literacy Champions – coming soon

Health Literacy

What is health literacy?

Health literacy measures your ability to obtain, process, and understand basic health information.

It is equally important for health care organizations to be health literate. A health-literate organization provides safe, person-centered, equitable care and services. Health care organizations are working to find better ways to support their patients in understanding and navigating an increasingly complex health care delivery system.

AHI PPS Cultural Competency and Health Literacy (CCHL) Champions

The AHI PPS Cultural Competency and Health Literacy (CCHL) Champion leads, monitors, and sustains development and implementation of initiatives within their organization to promote individual and organizational health literacy and provision of culturally-competent care and services.

What Do CCHL Champions Do?

Drive organization change by guiding the creation, execution, and evaluation of CCHL initiatives
Create sustainable improvements in quality and equity of care and services through CCHL frameworks
Become well-versed on cultural competency and health literacy principles, resources, and best practices with training and education support from the AHI PPS

Resources

Cultural Competency and Health Literacy Resources

Find valuable resources to increase knowledge and understanding of cultural competency and health literacy principles. See Cultural Competence Resources and Health Literacy Resources.

Meet The Trainers:

Gregory Owens, LMSW

Gregory Owens, LMSW, is a Licensed Master Social Worker with more than 30 years experience in the field of social work and human services, presenting on topics including cultural competency, responsible fatherhood, youth gangs and violence, race equity and leadership for high performance. He is presently facilitating sessions with more than 50 administrators on Implicit Bias, Leadership, Cultural Competence and Mastering Difficult Conversations.

Jennifer Manganello, PhD, MPH

Jennifer Manganello, PhD, MPH, is an Associate Professor at the University at Albany School of Public Health, a health communication school that incorporates theories, concepts, and methods from the fields of public health and communication. Her research focuses on health literacy as well as the effects of media attitudes, behaviors, and policies that put young people (children, adolescents, young adults) at risk for negative health outcomes.

Organizational Transformation