About CLAS > Cultural and Linguistic Competence

Improvements in cultural and linguistic competency contribute to enhanced communication and understanding among patients and practitioners, and to improved quality of care for culturally, ethnically and linguistically diverse patients. While there is limited evidence on the types of interventions needed to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in quality,3-93. Chin, Walters, Cook, Huang, Interventions to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care. Medical Care Research and Review, Vol 64; 7 Suppl, 2007.

4. Davis, Vinci, Okwuosa, Chase, Huang, Cardiovascular Health Disparities: A Systematic Review of Health Care Interventions. Medical Care Research and Review, Vol 64; 29 Suppl, 2007.

5. Peek, Cargill, Huang, Diabetes Health Disparities: A Systematic Review of Health Care Interventions. Medical Care Research and Review, Vol 64; 101 Suppl, 2007.

6. Van Voorhees, Walters, Prochaska, Quinn, Reducing Health Disparities in Depressive Disorders Outcomes between Non-Hispanic Whites and Ethnic Minorities: A Call for Pragmatic Strategies over the Life Course. Medical Care Research and Review, Vol 64; 157 Suppl, 2007.

7. Masi, Blackman, Peek, Interventions to Enhance Breast Cancer Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment among Racial and Ethnic Minority Women. Medical Care Research and Review, Vol 64; 195 Suppl, 2007.

8. Fisher, Burnet, Huang, Chin, Cagney, Cultural Leverage: Interventions Using Culture to Narrow Racial Disparities in Health Care. Medical Care Research and Review, Vol 64; 243 Suppl, 2007.

9. Chien, Chin, Davis, Casalino, Pay for Performance, Public Reporting and Racial Disparities in Health Care: How are Programs Being Designed? Medical Care Research and Review, Vol 64; 283 Suppl, 2007.
 many health care organizations have used QI methods to improve the quality of clinical care they deliver to patients.1010. National Committee for Quality Assurance. Recognizing Innovation in Multicultural Health Care. Washington, DC, 2006. Available at http://web.ncqa.org/Portals/0/HEDISQM/
CLAS/CLAS_InnovativePrac06.pdf. Although both generic QI efforts and interventions that address cultural and language needs have been successful in improving quality, a significant gap remains in the quality of care that racial and ethnic minorities receive—especially when compared to the quality that White patients receive.1,11,121. Institute of Medicine. Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care. Washington, DC. National Academy Press; 2003.

11. National Healthcare Disparities Report, 2006. Full Report. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/nhdr06/report/. Accessed October 6, 2007.

12. Chou, Brown, Jensen, Shih, Pawlson, Hudson Scholle, Gender and Racial Disparities in the Management of Diabetes Mellitus among Medicare Patients. Women’s Health Issues. 2007 May-Jun;17(3):150-61.

While there are many factors that affect health, research suggests that improving cultural competence and language access can reduce poor health outcomes and enhance quality of care. Culturally appropriate services may also contribute to reduced disparities.1313. Kilbourne et al. Advancing Health Disparities Research Within the Health Care System: A Conceptual Framework. American Journal of Public Health. December 2006, Vol 96, No. 12 Thus, there is great value in combining our knowledge and efforts in quality with those of culturally and linguistically appropriate services (CLAS).