Cultural Competency Is Essential in an Increasingly Diverse Society.

As the population becomes more divers, it's important for case managers to be aware of their patients' cultural beliefs and practices, and respect them in order to build trust and ensure that patients and family members will follow the care plan. Hospitals should provide comprehensive education on the culture of the patients they serve, hire staff that are from the ethnic groups they serve, and revamp their educational materials so that they are in all the languages their patients speak. Case managers should have general information on patients' cultures but also should conduct a detailed assessment to find out the beliefs and practices of each individual patient, rather than making assumptions. Whenever possible, case managers should work with the rest of the team to accommodate the beliefs and practices of patients. In most cases, it won't interfere with the treatment plan.