CME Program

Cultural Competency and Health Literacy

Download Course (PDF) (645 KB)

Register

Course Description

Communication is a key aspect of patient safety and patient satisfaction. Unfortunately, cultural, ethnic, linguistic and/or literacy differences between a provider and patient can significantly impact healthcare transaction communications. As the numbers of patients from diverse ethnic and cultural heritages steadily increase in the United States, the issue of addressing cross-cultural miscommunication in the healthcare setting becomes increasing important. Misunderstandings based on cultural differences or the patient’s inability to understand medical information can affect core aspects of providing healthcare, including informed consent, effective pain relief and medication prescription. Consequently, achieving an appropriate level of cultural competency and compensating for deficits in patient health literacy have become necessities in today’s healthcare environment.

Target Audience

This course is intended for all healthcare providers.

Educational Objectives

By reviewing case studies and implementing the risk management recommendations herein, participants will be able to:

• Apply communication best practices that reduce barriers between patients and healthcare providers.
• Appropriately manage informed consent and informed refusal with patients who have low health literacy, who refuse medical treatment based on religious or cultural belief, or who do not accept the role of primary decision maker.
• Comply with pertinent laws and statues pertaining to cultural competence, health literacy, communication with patients, and reporting requirements.

Disclosure Policy

As an ACCME accredited provider, NORCAL Mutual Insurance Company requires planners, reviewers or authors who influence or control content of a CME activity to disclose financial relationships (of any amount) they have with commercial interests associated with the CME activity during the past 12 months. Any identified conflicts of interest are resolved prior to the commencement the activity.

Disclosure

Individuals involved in the planning, reviewing or execution of this activity have indicated they have no relevant financial relationship to disclose.

Content Advisors/Planners

Stephen M. Farber
Vice President, Risk Management and Continuing Medical Education

Dustin Shaver
Manager, Risk Management and Continuing Medical Education

Marlene Nazerey, RN, MSN
Manager, Risk Management

Sonia Rutherford
Risk Management/CME Program Services Coordinator

Mary-Lynn Ryan
Consulting Risk Management Specialist

Jo Townson
Risk Management Specialist/Continuing Medical Education

Expert Reviewer

Joseph R. Betancourt, MD, MPH
Director, The Disparities Solutions Center
Senior Scientist, The Institute for Health Policy
Director of Multicultural Education, Mass General Hospital
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Helen Osborne, M. Ed., OTR/L
Health Literacy Specialist

Accreditation Statement
NORCAL Mutual Insurance Company is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation Statement
NORCAL Mutual Insurance Company designates this educational activity for a maximum of 2 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Original release date: June, 2009
Expiration date: June 30, 2012