Cultural Literacy & Awareness

Vocabulary is not enough. Therefore we complement our language instruction with cultural literacy and awareness training consistent with standards established by the institute for Culturally & Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS).To this end, the Medspanish program recommends completion of the Cultural Competence CME and CUE modules,
prior to course completion. http://www.thinkculturalhealth.org/

According to Paasche-Orlow, “The intent of a cultural competence curriculum is to enhance the patient-physician interaction and assure that students have the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that allow them to work effectively with patients and their families, as well as with other members of the medical community. Cultural competence is complicated: Health-care professionals must be educated to avoid stereotyping, but to also be aware of normative cultural values that can affect informed consent and can have serious consequences.”

Paasche-Orlow, M. The Ethics of Cultural Competence. Academic Medicine vol. 79, no. 4, April 2004, pp. 347- 350.
Excerpted from: https://www.aamc.org/download/54338/data/culturalcomped.pdf