The Role Of Cultural Competency In The Wirk Of Healthcare Professionals

Our job, as healthcare professionals, is to develop sincere connections with patients regardless of difference. Our ability to engage with difference is dependent on our cultural competency – which is the awareness and acceptance of all aspects that define a person’s culture. Though vital to providing well rounded care, it appears to be an afterthought in the practice of physical therapy. If the need for physical therapy does not discriminate, why should our therapists? It is inevitable that clinicians will interact with people from different backgrounds. Therefore, ignoring the need for cultural understanding imposes a threat to the practice of physical therapy and the individuals we serve. Trust is an essential factor in the practice of physical therapy. A clinician’s ability to develop and maintain trust affects the quality of patient outcomes. A physical therapist once admitted to me that a coworker would mimic the accent of one of their patients. Moments like this are not funny, and the lack of respect for difference has the potential to produce a breach of trust. Consequently, misunderstood patients may become hesitant in expressing their feelings or become apprehensive to new exercises. Without trust, both the physical and mental goals of the patient are harder to achieve.

To assist in building trust, patients must also feel safe in their environment. In order to provide safety for all patients, physical therapists must educate themselves on the varying identities individuals may present with. Learning more about the LGBTQ community can assist physical therapists in creating a safe learning place where clients feel welcome and understood. Additionally, accepting a person’s sexual orientation only encompasses a small portion of the LGBTQ community and fails to acknowledge issues related to gender that may impact the therapy process. For instance, a patient’s gender or pronouns may differ from what was assigned at birth. Some non-binary folks may choose not to use he or she and opt for the gender neutral “they.” By equipping oneself with knowledge, it becomes easier to respect clients which, in turn, allows clients to gain greater access to the practice of physical therapy.

It’s a known fact that the healthcare system is inaccessible, but it doesn’t have to be like this. Understanding that cultural competency plays a role in this disparity can help push the practice of physical therapy into an accessible future. Folks that lack resources and healthcare options tend to fall into oppressed and marginalized groups. Take a look at our class system: individuals with more money tend to fare better long-term. If a woman from a lower class system fractures her humerus working a laborious job, a snowball effect starts to take place. With limited access to good healthcare (and good physical therapy), her chances to get back to her full potential and provide for her family diminish. This is the reality of our healthcare system, and when we neglect the significance of cultural competency in this equation, we fail to see the whole picture – that’s dangerous for our practice and the future of our patients. An empathic industry is one I want to be a part of. When we as professionals take time to become culturally competent, we better understand access while providing a safe and trusting environment for our patients. Helping people is the easy part. Helping them while understanding them is a challenge...and we should all rise to the occasion.