healthcare system built dominant European-American cultural values, beliefs, practices. These differ Religion and spirituality have very different meanings, although these terms are essentially both related to a communion with supernatural forces. However, religion specifically denotes the influence of man and manmade laws, interpretations, and applications of principles of spirituality. Religion is, essentially, spirituality tempered through some mandates and laws of man. Spirituality, on the other hand, is simply one's own personal conviction, beliefs, and methods of interacting with a supernatural force or a deity. Health care facilities can provide an environment that is conducive to both religion and spirituality. In terms of both the former and the latter, they can attempt to issue procedures and respect the wishes of patients in a way that is consistent with popular Christian religious beliefs. Personnel employed at such facilities can be tolerant of and respectful of the beliefs of clients and of their families as it relates to the procedures they will endure and how they go about receiving treatment.

The first step in ensuring that proper measures are taken to provide available and...

It may not be ideal to include every single language used by a wide client base, but it is a good idea to include as many as possible. The next step is to translate documents of new patient and general patient information forms so that those who speak different languages can fill them out in their native languages. Next, one must attempt to procure interpreters that speak both English and the foreign languages assembled in step 1. It is ideal to have people who can speak more than one of those foreign languages. The final step relates to scheduling. The goal is to have patients who speak foreign languages identify themselves as such, and then schedule them for appointments in which the proper interpreter is available.
One of the things that I would do to help address the commonly found health disparities that exist among African-Americans and Native Americans is to increase awareness of the noxious effects of substance abuse that has historically plagued both of these communities. Native Americans have traditionally had substantial problems with alcoholism and…