Culture Competency
AOBB believes in diversity and inclusion while serving each consumer and the community. We hold true to the National CLAS Standards and Core Values. The National CLAS Standards call on health and health care organizations and providers to provide effective, equitable, understandable, and respectful quality care and services.
Effective: Effective care and services are those that successfully restore an individual to his or her desired health status and help to protect his or her future health. Providers must accurately understand the issue or illness, determine the course of treatment or services for that individual, and negotiate the solution or treatment successfully with the individual to provide effective health care and services.
Equitable: Equitable care and services must apply to all individuals and groups regardless of their cultural identity or identities. The aim of equitable care and services is to reduce the burden of illness, injury, and disability and to improve the health and functioning of all people in the United States.24 Equity is a key component of quality care
Understandable: Understandable care and services rely on a clear exchange of information between those providing care and services and those receiving them. Individuals should be able to fully comprehend how to access care and services, what their treatment options are, and what they need to get and stay well. Providing understandable services also involves knowing and being responsive to the health literacy levels, preferred languages, and other communication needs of patients.
Respectful: Respectful care and services are important to promoting an environment in which individuals with diverse cultural health beliefs and practices and from diverse cultural backgrounds will feel comfortable discussing their needs with any member of your organization's staff.
