The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #40737

James Plumb, MD, Department of Family Medicine, Jefferson Health System, 1015 Walnut - Suite 401, Philadelphia, PA 19107, 215-955-0535, james.plumb@mail.tju.edu and Rickie Brawer, MPH, Jefferson Health Systems, 130 South Bryn Mawr Ave., Clothier Building, Byrn Mawr, PA 19010.

Multiple examples from the literature demonstrate the magnitude of health disparities in health status and delivery of healthcare services. The literature also suggests that careful and appropriate implementation of sound culturally and ligusitically competent policies and programs in the delivery of health services could significantly reduce these disparties. In an effort to provide guidance to healthcare organizations in developing a comprehensive approach to cultural and liguistic competence through standards and practices, the Office of Minority Health of the Deaprtment of Health and Human Services released 14 "standards" for culturally and linguistically appropriates services (CLAS). As a component of the Jefferson Health System's (JHS) Quality Council and Quality Improvement efforts, the Community Health Department (CHD) of JHS was asked to perform an analysis of cultural and linguistic services in its seven member hospitals, using CLAS as a framework. Community Health Staff developed an organizational assessment instrument and surveyed key instituional administrators, providers, and Senior Managers. In addition, CHD Staff conducted several focus groups in the Latino, Chinese and Southeast Asian populations in the Philadelphia Region. These focus groups targetted such areas as access, barriers to care, and health needs. Based on the findings of the organizational assessment and the focus groups, the Department made recommendations regarding policy development and program implementation to the JHS Senior Management and the Quality Council.

Learning Objectives: Participants will

• identify the components of the Cultural and Linguistic Appropriate Standards (CLAS)
• articulate the importance of these Standards to a Regional Health System
• Construct an instrument to perform a healthcare organizational assessment of current activities formulated by CLAS

Keywords: Cultural Competency, Quality Improvement

Related Web page: www.omhc.gov/clas/index.htm

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.