Cultural Competency

DentaQuest places great emphasis on the wellness of its Members. A large part of quality health care delivery is treating the whole patient and not just the medical condition. Competency to differing cultural influences, beliefs and backgrounds, can improve a Provider’s relationship with Members and in the long run the health and wellness of the Members themselves.

Following is a list of principles for health care Providers, to include knowledge, skills and attitudes, related to cultural competency in the delivery of health care services to DentaQuest Members:

 

Knowledge

• Provider’s self‐understanding of race, ethnicity and influence.
• Understanding of the historical factors which impact the health of minority populations, such as racism and immigration patterns.
• Understanding of the particular psycho‐social stressors relevant to minority Members including war trauma, migration, acculturation stress, socioeconomic status. Understanding of the cultural differences within minority groups.
• Understanding of the differences between "culturally acceptable" behavior of psychopathological characteristics of different minority groups.
• Understanding indigenous healing practices and the role of religion in the treatment of minority Members.
• Understanding of the cultural beliefs of health and help seeking patterns of minority Members.
• Understanding of the health service resources for minority Members.
• Understanding of the public health policies and its impact on minority Members and communities.

 

Skills

• Ability to interview and assess minority Members based on a psychological, social, biological, cultural, political, and spiritual model.
• Ability to communicate effectively with the use of cross cultural interpreters.
• Ability to diagnose minority Members with an understanding of cultural differences in pathology.
• Ability to avoid under diagnosis or over diagnosis.
• Ability to formulate treatment plans that are culturally sensitive to the patient and family's concept of health and illness.
• Ability to utilize community resources (church, community‐based organizations (CBOs), self‐help groups).
• Ability to ask for consultation.

 

Attitudes

• Respect the "survival merits" of immigrants and refugees.
• Respect the importance of cultural forces.
• Respect the holistic view of health and illness.
• Respect the importance of spiritual beliefs.
• Respect and appreciate the skills and contributions of other professional and paraprofessional disciplines.
• Be aware of transference and counter transference issues.
  
  

DentaQuest encourages and advocates for providers to provide culturally competent care for its Members. Providers are also encouraged to participate in training provided by other organizations. You can visit https://www.hrsa.gov/about/organization/bureaus/ohe/health-literacy/culture-language-and-health-literacy for an online training course developed by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and earn CEU and/or CME credits.