VHA Culturally Competent Care

Paper Summary:

The paper presents the definitions of culture and culturally competent care and examines the patient population demographics of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The paper centers on the Hispanic population and their vulnerability and discusses the fourteen standards of cultural competence as identified by the Office of Minority Health (OMH). The paper also evaluates the VHA's performance to meet these standards and looks at the implication for nursing and at potential solutions for areas were standards are not met. The paper concludes that as the healthcare industry moves to a more culturally competent delivery method, healthcare quality and effectiveness will improve.

Outline:
Culture
Population Demographics
Cultural Vulnerability
Standard One
Standard Two
Standard Three
Standard Four
Standard Five
Standard Six
Standard Seven
Standard Eight
Standard Nine
Standard Ten
Standard Eleven
Standard Twelve
Standard Thirteen
Standard Fourteen
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Culture is defined as the incorporated pattern of human behavior that encompasses languages, values, thought, beliefs communication, customs, rituals, practices, relationships, courtesies, role, mannerisms and expected behaviors of an ethnic, social, racial or religious group (Hepburn, 2005). Cultural competence is a set of attitudes, policies, structures, practices and behaviors that collaborate in or between professionals, agencies, or systems that produce an increase in effectiveness to work with cross-cultural situations (Hepburn, 2005). The cultural competence standards used for this paper will be the OMH's National Standards on Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS). The CLAS's primary focus is organizational healthcare application and is designed to encourage the evaluation and development of culturally and linguistically congruent care (Office of Minority Health [OMH], 2007)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Campos, C. (2007). Addressing Cultural Barriers to the Successful Use of Insulin in Hispanics with Type 2 Diabetes. Southern Medical Journal, 100, 520-810.
• Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration (2007). Limited English Proficiency (LEP) TITLE VI Prohibition Against National Origin Discrimination in Federally Conducted and Federally Assisted Programs and Activities. Retrieved November 10, 2008, from http://www1.va.gov/VHAPUBLICATIONS/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=1538
• Ericksen, A. B. (2004). Veterans Affairs Nursing in the 21st Century. Retrieved November 12, 2008, from http://www.minoritynurse.com/features/nurse_emp/05-04-05d.html
• Familism. (2008). In Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Retrieved November 12, 2008, from www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/familism
• Federal Interagency Working Group (2008). Overview of Executive Order 13166. Retrieved November 10, 2008, from http://www.lep.gov/13166/eo13166.html

More papers on VHA Culturally Competent Care:

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• Analytical Essay # 55661 : "Mexican-Americans: Perceptions of Culturally Competent Care"

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