Stratis Health Awarded Funding by UCare for Cultural Competency Project in Minnesota

Increased cultural awareness among health providers, statewide cultural competency online resource and learning center are goals of effort

Published Monday, October 13, 2008 9:00 am
by Deb McKinley

Stratis Health was awarded $1 million by UCare to build cultural competency - the ability to interact effectively with people of different cultures - in Minnesota's health care community.

Minnesota's multicultural population is projected to increase. Between 2005 and 2010, about 38 percent of the state's population growth will occur among nonwhites. In 2000, nine percent of the population identified themselves as nonwhite-by 2030 this is projected to increase to 16 percent. As Minnesota's population becomes more diverse, health care providers are seeing a patient population that may not speak English, may not be familiar with Western medical customs, and may be distrustful of how health care is delivered in the United States.

Through this UCare funding, Stratis Health will develop and implement a program to increase cultural awareness among health providers across Minnesota, and will lay the groundwork to create a statewide cultural competency online resource and learning center.

With input from many partners, Stratis Health will develop an online resource and learning center of cultural competency and health literacy resources, focusing on culture and communications as it relates to health literacy, preventive care, and other health care topics. The organization also will work with and provide cultural competency training and resources directly to a number of UCare-contracted clinics that deliver care to underserved populations, in order to reduce disparities in health outcomes.

"Patients who feel understood by their health care providers are more receptive and responsive to care than patients who don't feel that connection. By helping Minnesota's health care professionals learn about the different cultures and needs of the diverse people they serve, we help them deliver more effective care," said Ghita Worcester, senior vice president, public affairs and marketing, UCare, which is a non-profit health plan that provides health coverage and services to more than 147,000 members in Minnesota and western Wisconsin. "UCare's partnership with Stratis Health is a positive way to help our members and all health care consumers feel confident that they are receiving care that is culturally appropriate and sensitive."

"Stratis Health is pleased for this opportunity to build on our previous work in reducing health disparities and improving cultural competency. We look forward to offering a statewide cultural competency online resource and learning center," said Jennifer Lundblad, PhD, MBA, president and CEO, Stratis Health. "We believe this will be a great resource to help health care providers better serve the state's growing multicultural patient population."

About Stratis Health

Stratis Health is a non-profit organization founded in 1971 that leads collaboration and innovation in health care quality and safety, and serves as a trusted expert in facilitating improvement for people and communities.

About UCare

UCare is an independent, nonprofit health plan providing health care and administrative services to more than 147,000 members. UCare partners with health care providers, counties, and community organizations to create and deliver innovative health coverage plans.