Week 5 Blog

Reading the NY Times article on Hmong Shamans being available in Merced Hopsital is encouraging because it shows how far have come in terms of being more culturally competent. It's even more significant in respect to Lia's case from The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. Though, it is great to see this, I wonder how we can make hospital effective in catering to the need of all of their patients. We can not ignore the fact the patients who enter a hospital come from many various backgrounds and cultures. Other than language competency (through interpreters, etc) are there other ways that hospitals can provide for the needs of all other patients. My question is to what extent are hospitals required to do this. For example, I am Ugandan born, but have grown up in the U.S. If a relative from home, were to fall sick on a visit here, it would be great if there was a physician who could treat them and also speak the language (or at least Ugandan culture.) However, can a hospital ever reach that level of competency. This seems a bit cinical, but I think this reveals (at least to myself) that effective cultural competency may be simply do all one can to relate to and understand patients of different cultures, and most importantly respecting their needs and beliefs. This is difficult becasue at times these difference may prevent what may be the most effective treatment. But its important to remeber that as future physican or health care people, we are always treating a person first, not simply an illness. Therefore respecting the person, may sometimes be the best treatment we can give.