Cultural Competence (Physical Therapy)

The United States is known as a "melting pot"- a country that harbors citizens of different religions, cultures, ethnicities, traditions, among other things. The importance of cultural competence cannot be emphasized enough to American citizens in general as it is with this competence that people can live in harmony. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, cultural competence is defined as "a set of congruent behaviors, attitudes, and polices that come together in a system, agency, or among professionals that enables effective work in cross cultural situations" (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). In the context of health care, cultural competence is an important factor in identifying and finding solutions to disparities in the health care system- a way that patients and doctors can communication about health concerns, by taking into account and being respectful of "health beliefs, practices and cultural and...
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