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Cultural Competence Expert PanelThe Expert Panel on Cultural Competence integrates socio-cultural data into new and existing health technologies and informatics to plan, implement, and evaluate culturally competent care. The panel’s goal is to synthesize evidence for practice to determine appropriate application of interventions across diverse populations. Inaugural Year: 2001 Current Chair(s): Dale M. Allison, PhD, APRN-Rx, FAAN Staff Liaison: Mallory Schindler Board Liaison: Karen Cox Previous Chairs: Joyce Newman Giger (2002-2004), Ruth Davidhizar (2005-2007), Sandra Millon Underwood (2005-2007) Frequency of Meetings: Annual in person meeting Publications: 2010 Equal Treatment of Patients’ Choice is Fundamental Human Right 2007 Understanding Cultural Language to Enhance Culturally Competence 2007 Developing Cultural Competence to Eliminate Health Disparities in Ethnic Minorities and Other Vulnerable Populations Charge to Expert Panel: Implement the AAN’s strategic goal to eliminate the gaps in health disparities and inequalities. Summary: In a pivotal report, the Institute of Medicine, (2002) concluded that cultural competence was crucial to eliminating health disparities based on race. Betancourt et al, building upon the (IOM) report, convened key informant interviews that linked poor health outcomes to the lack of cultural competencies in health care. The interviews shed light on the deficiencies in cultural competency training from a systemic perspective. From health care workers to students, a system-wide initiative is needed to address the complex health needs of ethnic minorities. Additionally, the key informants stressed the importance of the managed care industry, and educational accrediting bodies to hold their constituents culpable from a regulatory perspective and to promulgate cultural competency training as a gold standard for obtaining proficiency in health care. Hence, the mission of the Expert Panel on Cultural Competence is to develop and disseminate strategies to advance cultural competency in both academic and health care settings that measurably impact on the elimination of local and national health disparities using a systemic perspective. Resources Developing Cultural Competencies in Nurses: Evidence-based and Best Practices Publications |