Cultural Competency for Health Administration and Public Health

Rose (Africana and American studies, U. of Miami) introduces the topics and tools needed for the application of cultural competency processes in different healthcare settings for health administration and public health professionals, as well as upper level undergraduate and graduate students, necessary for improving quality care and healthcare as a business. Arguing that healthcare organizations and public health entities should develop a cultural competence plan akiin to a business plan, she first addresses the difference between cultural competence and diversity, then demonstrates the need for a paradigm shift in public health and health administration, how cultural competence helps the bottom line of organizations, the nuances and disparities of specific racial and ethnic groups, the roles of various staff, assessment and training, accreditation requirements, and the Office of Minority Health's Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services standards, ending with specific discussion of women of color. Annotation c2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)