Implementing cultural and linguistic competence in healthcare management curriculum

As our nation's population continues to diversify, the need to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services will intensify. In the healthcare industry, specifically, it is imperative that the services provided are congruent with patients' beliefs and practices in order to avoid fatal and costly errors. Much attention has been given to the role of clinicians in providing appropriate services to racially and ethnically diverse groups to eliminate disparities and lessen barriers to access. The need for cultural and linguistic competence, however, extends beyond clinicians. This paper discusses the need to add cultural and linguistic competencies to the healthcare management curriculum and presents a set of core competencies for healthcare management majors. A core competency model is presented along with discussion suggestions and student activities designed to make the learning process intellectually stimulating and improve student receptivity.