• Maternal and Reproductive Health Beliefs
• Reproductive Health of Latinas in the U.S.
• Maternal and Child Health (last section - scroll down)
• Entre Parejas: An Exploration of Latino Perspectives Regarding Family Planning and Contraception.
  

* For additional Multicultural Health Generalizations, please visit: http://www.med.umich.edu/multicultural/ccp/bmhg.htm

Michigan Visiting Nurses Women/Children's Programs

The Michigan Visiting Nurses (MVN) Women/Children's Programs see approximately 85% of the patients at the UMHS Birthing Center.  These patients are seen through some of MVN's home visitation programs including High Risk Antepartum visits, Maternal and Infant Support Services visits, and early discharge visits.  Language barriers can make it difficult to teach new parents how to care for themselves and their newborn. 

Staff with MVN Women/Children's Programs use interpreters, a certified language line, and discharge instructions for mom and baby (in 11 languages) to address the needs of their non-English speaking patients.  Latino patients account for the largest non-English speaking population.  Two Spanish-speaking nurses conduct home visits and provide interpretation for Spanish-speaking patients.  In 2004, MVN started providing childbirth education classes in Spanish on a quarterly basis.  The video "Stages of Labor" and a power-point presentation are also available in Spanish.  The MVN staff monitors the primary language and race/ethnicity of their patients to see where other targeted efforts are needed.      

In addition to the challenges of providing patient care when language barriers are present, nurses must also be aware of and sensitive to cultural practices regarding childbirth, breast-feeding, and infant care.  Examples include the use of honey in home remedies and the belief that colostrum is harmful or dirty.  For home visits, nurses also need to be aware of cultural practices such as removing shoes upon entering the home, avoiding visits on holy days, and accepting food/beverages when refusing would be an insult.

MVN Women/Children's Programs continues looking for more ways to provide culturally competent care.  Staff are also independently finding translated material and culturally appropriate resources and information to assist them in their patient encounters. 

Outpatient Registration and Insurance Verification
"The cultural competency event was wonderful; there were so many wonderful displays.  To be among other's that work so passionately to make this world a better place for all is a true pleasure for me.  There was a lot of networking going on, a lot of business cards exchanged hands.  I wish we would have been able to share this with more staff."  

Rehabilitation, 6A University Hospital
"I think the Cultural Competency Exchange is an excellent opportunity to see what we are doing all across the institution and - no matter how simple we think what we are doing is - it all fits into the much larger picture of valuing staff and patients, and everyone we come into contact with.  This helps us be more aware of what UMHHS is really doing as it relates to cultural competency and actually demonstrates the value that is placed on developing and nurturing the competency.  Thanks for giving us an opportunity to share, learn and grow!"

Patient Education Advisory Committee
"I am in the beginning stages of working with Turner Senior Resource Center on a class for new/expecting grandparents.  When the HERC is reopened I hope to be able to provide more."

Quentin A. Logan, Otolaryngology
"I shared my presentation with the Oto Diversity Committee.  As a result, we are providing information and sharing many resources.  We are now working together on a project that would help us to educate and provide better skills and training for our staff.  Thanks for allowing me to share my idea at the Cultural Competency Exchange and I hope to see you all next year."

Irene Knokh, Educational Services for Nursing 
"I have been commended for my efforts by the department. I hope to expand for next year (revising  video/audio files I am posting to CTOOLS, also possibly getting the interviewing 'booth project-type' set up)."

Obtaining Data on Patient Race, Ethnicity, and Primary Language in Health Care Organizations: Current Challenges and Proposed Solutions
August 2006
Commonwealth Foundation
http://www.cmwf.org/publications/publications_show.htm?doc_id=399579&#doc399579

Promising Practices for Patient-Centered Communication with Vulnerable Populations: Examples from Eight Hospitals
*Questions about this program?  E-mail Jacqueline Voigt, Cultural Competency Manager, a member of the AMA Ethical Task Force Program, Patient-Centered Communication Initiative
August 2006
Commonwealth Foundation
http://www.cmwf.org/publications/publications_show.htm?doc_id=397067&#doc397067

Los Angeles Times Examines 'Hispanic Epidemiological Paradox'
August 28, 2006
Kaiser Family Foundation
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=39486

Officials of the Christian Science Church Seek Recognition of Faith Healing Under Massachusetts Law Requiring Health Care Coverage
August 28, 2006
Kasier Family Foundation
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=39481

Many Programs To Recruit, Train Minority Providers Lose Federal Grant Money This Year, as Congress Appropriates Lower Funding
August 25, 2006
Kaiser Family Foundation
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=39449

Study Examines Benefit of Nurse-Managed Care for Minority Heart Failure Patients
August 17, 2006
Kaiser Family Foundation
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=39253

Tennessee Hosts Minority Health Summit, Reviews Progress on Eliminating Disparities
August 16, 2006
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
http://www.rwjf.org/portfolios/features/digest.jsp?iaid=133&id=4016

Delaware Hospitals Step Up Cultural Competency Programs
August 15, 2006
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
http://www.rwjf.org/portfolios/features/digest.jsp?iaid=133&id=4009

Florida Hospitals, Health Organizations Address Staff Training to Reduce Language Barriers
August 14, 2006
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
http://www.rwjf.org/portfolios/features/digest.jsp?iaid=133&id=4002

Detroit Free Press Examines Services for Culturally Diverse Patient Populations
August 11, 2006
Kaiser Family Foundation
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=39087

California Hospitals Share Interpreters Via Videoconferencing Network
August 8, 2006
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
http://www.rwjf.org/portfolios/features/digest.jsp?iaid=133&id=3965

Boston Hospitals Work To Boost Minority Employment
August 8, 2006
Kaiser Family Foundation
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=39006

Blacks, Latinos With Diabetes Face Higher Hospitalization Rates Than Whites, Study Says
August 3, 2006
Kaiser Family Foundation
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=38910

National Program Seeks to Identify, Reduce Health Disparities
August 2, 2006
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
http://www.rwjf.org/portfolios/features/digest.jsp?iaid=133&id=3928

Report Highlights High Uninsured Rates Among Hispanics, Blacks
August 1, 2006
Commonwealth Foundation
http://www.cmwf.org/healthpolicyweek/healthpolicyweek_show.htm?doc_id=387898&#doc387904

Boston Cancer Centers Work to Improve Care, Outreach to Minority Patients
July 31, 2006
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
http://www.rwjf.org/portfolios/features/digest.jsp?iaid=133&id=3913