Objective: Demonstrate an understanding of the changing demographics on patients and providers utilizing cultural competency concepts when improving cultural awareness.

Exercise: The Language Assumption

A woman arrives at a suburban emergency room in the early stages of labor. Both she and her husband speak little English, and the admitting clerk cannot obtain insurance information. The staff assumes the mother (and child) is uninsured and unable to pay for healthcare services out-of-pocket.

1. How soon can the hospital transfer this patient to another hospital?

2. What is the impact of this assumption on the delivery of health care services?

3. How would you describe this organizational culture and how does it impact cultural competency?