Cultural competence in health care is one of the crucial topics, the need for which only increases over time. Many countries are characterized by multinationality; the modern world needs culturally competent healthcare workers, as the patients who seek help can be from different ethnic groups and cultures. Cultural competence refers to the ability of medical professionals to identify culturally mediated attitudes, values, traditions, language preferences, and well-established practices in health care and channel this body of knowledge to improve treatment.
Although patients are accustomed to a specific model of the doctor – kindly gray-haired Dr. Smith (elderly), generations change, and this shift is inevitable. Previous generations of doctors may also adhere to certain treatment models that are becoming obsolete. The world is moving away from the framework and strives for freedom of choice, more tolerant, versatile treatment, and patient care; established prescriptions are no longer relevant.
A culturally competent team will have no problem accepting a new staff doctor from a different ethnic group or culture. The manager has to use the skills associated with the ability to communicate correctly. Not focusing on the “uniqueness” or “peculiarities” of the new colleague is vital in this situation (Greene-Moton & Minkler, 2020). The strategy of acceptance and equal work of all team members is the only correct. This will help to accept a new doctor into the team, and they will feel a part of it. The patient’s preferences should not outweigh the cultural competence; if the patient disagrees, the situation requires additional settlement by the manager. Exceptionally, all people need to learn patience, understanding, and acceptance concerning patients and their colleagues.
If a conflict arises, the manager’s role is to resolve it. As a manager, it is necessary to convey to the patient that regardless of confession, ethnicity, culture, the doctor has the qualifications needed for treatment, and their different identities cannot affect their professional skills. There must be trust between the doctor and the patient; this will help to improve the quality of treatment. If the patient cannot trust the doctor due to cultural characteristics, they need to consider other options that the manager can offer.
Reference
Greene-Moton, E., & Minkler, M. (2020). Cultural competence or cultural humility? Moving beyond the debate. Health promotion practice, 21(1), 142-145.