The Hidden Key to Better Healthcare? Cultural Competence

What Is Culturally Competent Care?

Culturally competent care means providing care that takes into consideration an individual’s cultural background, values, language, beliefs, and lived experience. Each patient brings with them a unique cultural lens that affects how they perceive illness, healing, treatment, and the healthcare system as a whole.

When healthcare providers exhibit culturally competent behavior, they can listen without bias, adapt care to meet people where they are, and are willing to confront their personal assumptions as healthcare providers or advocates.

Being culturally competent is not a one-and-done; it's a continually evolving process.

 

Why Cultural Competence Matters

1. Health Outcomes Improve
   Studies show that patients who feel respected and understood by their healthcare providers are more likely to follow treatment plans, attend follow-up appointments, and engage in preventative care. When care is aligned with a patient’s cultural values and communication style, trust is built, and with trust comes better outcomes.

2. It Reduces Disparities
   Health disparities—such as higher rates of maternal mortality among Black women, delayed cancer diagnoses in Latinx communities, and under-treatment of pain in both Black and Indigenous populations—are often rooted in systemic racism and bias. Culturally competent care is one step toward addressing this by bridging the gap between communities and the healthcare system, helping to reduce inequities.

3. It Builds Trust
   Mistrust of the medical system is abundant, and it’s often grounded in lived experience. From the Tuskegee Study to present-day stories of mistreatment and dismissal, especially amongst black and brown people, leaves many people with valid reasons to feel cautious. When providers take the time to learn about and honor their patients’ backgrounds, and even acknowledge the perceived mistrust, they create a safer and more welcoming environment that fosters open communication and healing.

    

Real-World Examples of Culturally Competent Care

Let’s say you’re working with a woman from Nigeria in managing a diagnosis of diabetes and hypertension. A culturally competent provider might ask about traditional foods she enjoys and find ways to incorporate them into her dietary goals. A Nigerian woman is unlikely to adhere to a 'Mediterranean Diet' long-term. The simple act of partnering with her is likely to encompass more buy-in.

For Black women navigating cancer care, cultural competence can mean everything from connecting them with a provider who understands the unique psychosocial stressors they face to acknowledging how racism has historically impacted their healthcare journey.

Culturally competent care is fundamental to delivering care that heals rather than harms.

Barriers to Culturally Competent Care

Despite growing awareness about the need for culturally competent care, many barriers remain. Especially in light of the efforts of the current administration in the United States to dismantle Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Programs. Here are some of the existing barriers:

• Lack of Training – Many clinicians never receive in-depth training on cultural humility or bias. In our current healthcare system, cultural competence is often viewed as a one-time seminar, typically during onboarding for a new job, rather than an ongoing practice.

• Language Barriers – When interpretation services aren’t available or poorly implemented, it creates dangerous gaps in care. Miscommunication can lead to misdiagnosis, medication errors, and patient dissatisfaction.

• Time Constraints – Providers are often under pressure to see more patients in less time, such as the double-booked 15-minute office visit. This makes it harder to connect on a deeper level. Unfortunately, building cultural awareness takes time, intention, and curiosity.

• Systemic Bias – From insurance policies to diagnostic criteria, many aspects of the healthcare system are designed around dominant cultural norms. This “one-size-fits-all” approach leaves many to fall between the cracks.

The Role of Advocacy in Promoting Cultural Competence

Independent health advocates, like myself, can play a crucial role in advocating for culturally competent care, especially for those who may feel marginalized, misunderstood, or overlooked by traditional healthcare systems.

We can:

• Help clients prepare for appointments, including how to articulate their values, needs, and concerns in medical settings.

• Bridge communication gaps between patients and providers, especially when cultural or language differences exist.

• Educate patients about their rights, options, and the importance of self-advocacy.

• Collaborate with providers to ensure that care plans are culturally aligned and respectful.

   

As a health advocate and someone deeply passionate about equitable care, I believe it’s time we stop treating cultural competence as an optional add-on to healthcare and start recognizing it as a core element of quality care.

 

What You Can Do—Whether You're a Patient, Provider, or Ally

If you’re a patient, know that your voice matters. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, bring up your beliefs and values, and request a provider who aligns with your needs. You deserve to be seen in full.

If you’re a healthcare provider, consider ongoing cultural humility training—not just to check a box, but to truly expand your awareness. Ask yourself: Whose voice is missing in my understanding of this issue? What assumptions might I be making? Commit to being a lifelong learner in the human experience.

If you’re a healthcare leader, make this a priority at the organizational level. Cultural competence should be part of your strategic goals, staff training, and patient satisfaction metrics. It’s not about political correctness—it’s about clinical excellence.

If you’re a community member or advocate, use your platform to elevate the stories and needs of people who aren’t always heard. Share resources. Ask hard questions. Push for policies that reflect the diverse needs of your community.

Final Thoughts

Culturally competent care is a truly holistic approach to healthcare. We can do this by recognizing the full humanity of each person who walks through the clinic door. It's about dismantling the paternalistic approach to healthcare and meeting people where they are, not where we assume they should be.

It’s about transforming healthcare from a system that works for some into a system that works for all.

If we truly want equity in healthcare, cultural competence must be more than a buzzword—we must be willing to work toward it becoming our standard.

What's Next......

My mission is to work with individuals, families, and organizations to advance culturally responsive, patient-centered care. Whether you’re navigating a difficult diagnosis or seeking staff training for your healthcare team, I can help.

👉 Book a Support Strategy Session today
👉 Invite me to speak at your next event on equity in healthcare

Let’s build a healthcare system where everyone feels heard, respected, and empowered.