Biography
Biography: Rohini A Mehta
Abstract
The United States of America has been a kaleidoscope of cultures for hundreds of years. This has never been truer than it is
today, as people from every corner of the globe continue to seek out a life in the U.S., whether permanently or temporarily. The
multicultural makeup of the U.S.-especially in metropolitan areas-presents special challenges for medical professionals, whose job
requires relating to patients on a very personal level. In urban areas it is not unusual for a doctor to have a diverse patient lineupseeing
a patient in the morning who recently emigrated from the Philippines, a multi-generational family of Indian descent later in
the afternoon, and a tourist from China in the evening might be a typical day for some in the healthcare profession. Even doctors
and nurses who work in rural areas will inevitably encounter people of various ethnicities and cultural backgrounds in their careers,
especially as the U.S. countryside continues to become more ethnically and racially diverse. Sensitivity, compassion, understanding,
and acceptance of patients with different values, beliefs, and behaviors are essential qualities for those who work in the medical
arena. The increasing diversity of the nation brings opportunities and challenges for health care providers, health care systems, and
policy makers to create and deliver culturally competent services. Cultural competence is defined as the ability of providers and
organizations to effectively deliver health care services that meet the social, cultural, and linguistic needs of patients. A culturally
competent health care system can help improve health outcomes and quality of care, and can contribute to the elimination of racial
and ethnic health disparities. Examples of strategies to move the health care system towards these goals include providing relevant
training on cultural competence and cross-cultural issues to health professionals and creating policies that reduce administrative and
linguistic barriers to patient care.