Cultural competency and advocacy are listed as skills necessary for effective case management.
Discussion Question:
Choose one of the following prompts to answer:
Cultural competency and advocacy are listed as skills necessary for effective case management. Define cultural competence and advocacy and then provide an example from your practice that demonstrates your skill level in that area.
OR
As a case manager, you are responsible for assisting with care transitions. Outline a discharge plan from the hospital to home care services for the following client: Mr. Perez is a 72-year-old Puerto Rican male being discharged from your hospital with an exacerbation of Congestive Heart Failure. He has been hospitalized three times in the past 90 days. He lives alone and has limited family support. He understands English; however, he prefers to communicate in Spanish. This is his first referral to home care services. Medicare is his primary payor source. As you develop your discharge plan, identify areas that you will focus on with the home health agency to decrease the likelihood of readmission to the hospital.
Sample Expert Answer
Cultural competence and advocacy are essential skills for healthcare providers. Cultural competence refers to the ability of healthcare professionals to understand, respect, and effectively respond to the cultural beliefs, values, practices, and needs of individuals from diverse backgrounds (Luquis & Pérez, 2021). It involves developing knowledge, attitudes, and skills that enable healthcare providers to deliver culturally sensitive care and foster positive healthcare experiences for patients.
Cultural competence requires recognizing and valuing the diversity within a patient population, including differences in language, religion, traditions, and socioeconomic factors. By understanding and addressing these cultural factors, healthcare providers can enhance communication, build trust, and tailor care plans to meet the unique needs of each patient. Cultural competence enables healthcare professionals to provide culturally sensitive care and tailor their approaches to meet the diverse needs of patients.
Advocacy in healthcare involves actively speaking up and advocating for the rights, needs, and well-being of patients. It encompasses promoting patient autonomy, ensuring access to healthcare resources, and striving for equitable healthcare outcomes (Clark, 2015). Advocacy can take many forms, such as supporting patients in making informed decisions about their care, collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to address barriers to care, and engaging in policy and system-level changes to improve healthcare delivery.
An example of advocacy in my practice is when I worked with a patient from a marginalized community who faced language and cultural barriers in accessing healthcare. I advocated for the provision of interpreter services to ensure effective communication between the patient and healthcare team. Additionally, I collaborated with community organizations to connect the patient with culturally appropriate resources and support services, empowering them to actively participate in their care and navigate the healthcare system.
References
Clark, M. (2015). Population and Community Health Nursing (6th ed.). Pearson. ISBN: 9780133846584.
Luquis, R. R., & Pérez, M. A. (Eds.). (2021). Cultural competence in health education and health promotion. John Wiley & Sons.
