Cultural Diversity Resources for Clinical Preparation
Free Online Resources
The Federal Government’s Office of Minority Health
includes information on CLAS regulations which require that
institutions provide “Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate
Services”. The site also provides specific information on the health
beliefs and practices of several racial and cultural groups, and the
prevalence of common health disorders among those groups in the US. Use
the “Cultural Competency” tab and the “Minority Populations” tab to
access this information.
Medscape for Nurses, part of WebMD, offers links to current literature on the care of diverse populations.
MedlinePlus, the consumer health information page sponsored by the National Institute of Health, is available in Spanish
UVa Health System Resources
The University of Virginia Health System offers resources for employees and students who are caring for patients
whose primary language is not English. Halfway down the page, the user
will note a link to “CultureGrams.” “CultureGrams” allows the user to
select a geographic area and read a brief synopsis of the religious
values, dietary preferences, and health and wellness beliefs that
predominate in the selected area. This information can be printed to be
included with the clinical preparation and possibly shared with other
providers.