Different cultures. different languages

Different cultures. different languages. different customs.

Different Health Care

needs. care columbus

united

way’s

CARE COLUM

the challenges of a diverse community Studies show that cultural traditions and customs have a significant impact on how people seek out health care and what kind of care they receive.

Language barriers, differences in cultural practices and customs, and lack of transportation, health insurance, or access to health care services – all contribute to health disparities. Any one of these factors can affect the way a nurse interprets a patient’s symptoms, or how a client understands a social worker’s instructions.

In a diverse community such as central Ohio, a provider is as likely to see a Somali immigrant or an Amish farmer as a non-English speaking Hispanic – each one with different cultural values and different healthcare needs.

where does it hurt?

A patient’s or client’s approach to health care – which may determine whether or not they get well – is often influenced by their religion and spirituality, cultural norms about family relationships, and perspectives about privacy.

Furthermore, health care and human service providers are better able to properly diagnose and treat their patients and clients if they understand differences among diverse groups – that liver cancer is twelve times more likely to strike an Asian American than a Caucasian, for example, or that Mexican Americans are more likely to have kidney failure than the general population.

United Way of Central Ohio understands that cultural barriers to quality care ultimately lead to higher health care costs and a decline in the overall health and wellness of our community. With United Way’s support, CARE Columbus has worked since 1999 to train health care and human service professionals, teaching them how to recognize cultural values and act in ways to improve health outcomes for everyone.

COLUMBUS The need in our community • Six percent of Franklin County residents are foreign-born, and this group is projected to grow to 12 percent by 2010.

• The Hispanic diabetic population is 50 percent more likely to die from diabetes complications than is the non-Hispanic white population.

• Nearly 90,000 Franklin County residents speak a language other than English at home.

better health comes from better understanding United Way of Central Ohio teams with various health care and human service organizations to offer the CARE Columbus training and education program for providers who want to improve their cross-cultural interactions with patients and clients.

Nurses, social workers, and other professionals experience interactive sessions – including discussions, videos and role-playing – to develop effective strategies that they can readily implement in the workplace.

The results of collaboration To date, CARE Columbus has provided programs for more than 450 participants, who report high overall satisfaction ratings. A large majority of participants — 73 percent — report being better able to deliver culturally competent care as a result of CARE Columbus training.

You can make a difference. we hope to raise $80,000 to benefit people from diverse backgrounds and their providers. $32,400 to fund 24 Level I training and education programs for health care and human services professionals $28,800 to fund 8 Level II training and education programs $18,800 to fund additional curricula development

If you believe, as we do, that people from diverse backgrounds should receive quality health care and other related human services, then please invest in United Way and CARE Columbus.

With your investment, we can reduce health care costs and improve the health and wellness of members of our community, which pays big dividends for all of us.

Join us. Invest your money, use your voice, volunteer your time to help heal what hurts.

360 South Third Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215-5485 • Tel 614.222.2700 Fax 614.224.5435 TTY 614.227.2710