FOR HOSPITALS

There are significant differences in the health status of various multicultural groups, especially with regard to prevalent, highly treatable diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and cancer. And because cultural differences have largely been neglected in the U.S. healthcare community, there are also well-documented disparities in the medical treatment of members of diverse populations.

Finding a way to meet the varied needs of a fast-growing multicultural population is essential to the continued health of our healthcare system and our national economy. Cultural competency has become a significant business imperative.

Changes in healthcare needs drive changes in healthcare business

·          Customers: more diverse, sophisticated and demanding.

·          Asking to be treated in a manner that is sensitive, responsive to their differences.

·          Hospitals are faced with tighter budgets and stiffer competition.

·          Hospitals need unique and distinctive brand. 

·          Best clinical outcomes now require hospitals to adapt to growing patient diversity.

Advantages for healthcare organizations

·          Quality and cost: improvements offered to all patients eliminates inefficiencies.

·          Revenue: cultural competency increases patient pool and potential earnings.

·          Regulatory: culturally sensitive business practices lines up organizations with both mandatory and recommended guidelines.

·          Legal: bridging communication gap reduces incidents, claims and lawsuits relating to mistreatment.

CMCHO shows hospitals how to reach these goals.

So why haven't we seen a cultural competency approach in healthcare organizations already?  Because it requires the following actions which are not easily or quickly achieved: 

·          A multitude of changes, including operational changes (how they do what they do) and cultural changes (attitudes, beliefs and behaviors that influence how they do what they do).

·          Top-down commitment (great leadership, modeling and reinforcement).

·          Consistent delivery (every day).

That's why CMCHO was created by a team of culturally and professionally diverse healthcare thought leaders to assess, educate, train and certify healthcare organizations in effective multicultural competency principles and practices, using the standards developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health. CMCHO conducts on-site surveys and assessments of healthcare organizations, during which its members evaluate leadership attitudes, beliefs and behaviors, current policies and procedures and resulting clinical outcomes. CMCHO enhances the quality of patient care and service your hospital provides, highlights the diligence and cultural awareness of your staff and offers an attractive marketing platform for efforts to distinguish yourself from your competition.