DEIBXXEM2405 - CME/CMLE - Applying Cultural Competency in the Laboratory-Applying Cultural Competency in the Laboratory

Video Transcription

Video Summary

In this session, Jose Jara-Aguirre, a clinical pathologist at Children's National Hospital and assistant professor at George Washington University, discusses cultural competency in laboratory settings. The core ideas include understanding implicit biases, incorporating cultural sensitivity into lab practices, and recognizing the impact of globalization and workforce diversity. Jara-Aguirre emphasizes the need to respect different cultural beliefs and behaviors among both international lab personnel and diverse patient populations to enhance patient care and lab efficiency.<br /><br />He explains the importance of recognizing the difference between diversity (various attributes such as race, ethnicity, and gender) and culture (values, behaviors, and practices shaped by one's environment). Cultural competency involves attitudes, knowledge, and practical skills that help create a supportive and effective multicultural work environment. He introduces the RESPECT model (Rapport, Empathy, Support, Partnership, Explanations, Cultural Competence, and Trust) as a strategy for improving communication and reducing implicit bias.<br /><br />Jara-Aguirre also discusses scenarios to illustrate challenges and solutions in applying cultural competency, advocating for self-assessment and continuous improvement in cultural awareness and communication skills within an laboratory and broader healthcare contexts.

Keywords

cultural competency

implicit biases

lab practices

globalization

workforce diversity

RESPECT model

patient care

communication skills