The concern is that the issue of healthcare for culturally diverse individuals is so complex, there are no exact rights and wrongs. For example, in Fadiman's book, no person(s) can be said to be ultimately correct or incorrect in his/her behavior or actions; everyone did what he/she thought was right. In order to help others who have different cultural backgrounds and experiences, as the Hmong, it is essential to be 1) proactive. That is, to forecast the transforming demographics in the U.S. over the coming decades and put plans into place that will best serve these individuals and 2) collaborative. The best results occur when professionals from different backgrounds and expertise share best practices and learn from each other. What could have happened, for example, if the hospital, social workers or CPS would have called for a multicultural collaboration of individuals from both the Western and Hmong societies? Chances are that Lia's tragedy would have occurred no matter what, but she would have had a better chance for a good life. Collaboration resolves other problems, as well. First, by joining together, there is the possibility of getting additional funding or sharing the cost of needed services, such as translators. Second, through collaborative measures, the various services can share their areas of expertise and reduce or eliminate waste and duplication of services. Third, there is a better chance of offering well-rounded services where people do not fall through the cracks.
Culturally effective healthcare must also be tightly integrated into all levels of education...
The continued lack of cultural sensitivity being taught in colleges and universities is the reason why there is not effective healthcare for people who have cultural beliefs different from that of the majority American society.
References
Compton, B., Galaway, B., & Curnoyer, B.R. (1994). Social work processes (7th ed.).
Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.
Fadiman, Anne (1997) the Spirit Catches You, and You Fall Down. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Gladwell, M. (2002). The tipping point: How little things can make a big difference. Boston: Little Brown
Gutierrez, L.M. (1995). Understanding the empowerment process: Does consciousness make a difference? Social Work Research, 19, 229-237.
Hasnain-Wynia, R., and Pierce, D. (2007). Practicing Evidence-Based and Culturally Competent Medicine: Is it Possible? Virtual Mentor 9:572-578.
HRSA Cultural Competence (2005). Website retrieved November 27, 2007. http://www.hrsa.gov/culturalcompetence/
Metzl, J., and Poirier, S. (2004) Editors' Preface: Difference and Identity in Medicine
Literature and Medicine 23(1) vi-xii
Wilson-Stronks, a., and Galvez, E. (2007) Exploring Cultural and Linguistic Services in the Nation's Hospitals a Report of Findings Hospitals, Language, and Culture:
Snapshot of the Nation. Joint Commission. Website retrieved September 30, 2005. http://www.yvcc.edu/coe/pdf/hlc_paper.pdf
