Heritage months and healthcare: It’s about our patients and ourselves

Recognizing heritage months plays a pivotal role in fostering cultural competence among the healthcare workforce.  

Medical group practice and health system workers are entrusted with a profound responsibility: to provide care to individuals, each with their own unique histories, backgrounds and issues. Embracing heritage months honors the rich tapestry of our society and empowers healthcare professionals with the knowledge and sensitivity required to deliver patient-centered care.  

Here are nine reasons to observe and educate your healthcare team during heritage months: 

1. Celebrating diversity: Heritage months present an opportunity to celebrate the diverse array of cultures, ethnicities and identities within our society. By recognizing and honoring the contributions and experiences of various communities, our team members can foster an environment of inclusivity and respect. 
2. Empathy and understanding: Cultural competence is built on empathy and understanding. By acknowledging heritage months, healthcare workers gain valuable insights into historical and cultural factors that shape a patient's beliefs, values and health practices. This understanding enables professionals to connect on a deeper level with their patients. 
3. Reducing disparities: In healthcare, disparities in access and treatment are persistent challenges that disproportionately affect marginalized communities. Recognizing heritage months heightens awareness of these disparities and encourages healthcare workers to address them through targeted interventions and outreach initiatives. 
4. Tailored care and treatment: Everyone's health journey is influenced by their heritage and cultural background. Healthcare professionals can refine their approach to care, tailoring treatments and interventions to align with patients' unique needs and preferences. This personalized care can lead to better health outcomes and patient satisfaction. 
5. Enhancing communication: Effective communication is essential. When professionals understand the cultural nuances and communication styles of their patients, they can bridge language and cultural barriers, ensuring that vital health information is conveyed accurately and appropriately. 
6. Building trust and rapport: Trust is the cornerstone of the patient-provider relationship. By demonstrating an appreciation for diverse heritages, healthcare workers can build trust and rapport with their patients, encouraging open and honest dialogues about health concerns and facilitating shared decision-making. 
7. Promoting health literacy: Cultural competence enhances health literacy, enabling patients to better comprehend health information and treatment options. When healthcare workers are aware of heritage-related influences on health literacy, they can adapt their communication and education efforts accordingly. 
8. Professional growth and development: Heritage months provide healthcare workers with opportunities for continuous learning and growth. Engaging in educational activities and cultural events fosters a spirit of curiosity and a commitment to ongoing improvement in cultural competence. 
9. Advancing health equity: Recognizing heritage months is a stepping stone toward achieving health equity. By promoting cultural competence and sensitivity within the healthcare industry, we can work toward dismantling systemic barriers and ensuring that everyone receives dignified and equitable care, regardless of their heritage. 

Recognizing heritage months in the healthcare industry is not merely an act of celebration; it is a continuous journey toward cultural competence, empathy and equitable care. By embracing the diverse histories and issues of patients, healthcare workers can truly treat people as individuals, respecting and valuing the richness of their unique identities and experiences through improved knowledge and compassion. 

Throughout the year, MGMA will publish a series of educational articles about heritage months and resources you can share with your healthcare teams to give them better awareness and cultural competence: