Introduction
The care that pediatricians provide to an increasingly diverse child and adolescent population should encompass medical home principles; it should be accessible, continuous, comprehensive, family-centered, coordinated, compassionate, and culturally effective. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) defines culturally effective care as “the delivery of care within the context of appropriate physician knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of cultural distinctions leading to optimal health outcomes.” Such understanding should take into account the beliefs, values, actions, customs, and unique health care needs of distinct population groups.
This Culturally Effective Care Toolkit is a practical, hands-on resource to help practicing pediatricians and their office staff provide culturally effective care to their patients and families.
The policy statement “Ensuring Culturally Effective Pediatric Care: Implications for Education and Health Policy” defines culturally effective health care and describes its importance for pediatrics and the health of children.
The policy statement “The Medical Home” defines the medical home concept in detail.
The AAP News article “Culturally Effective Care Resources” provides information about where to find resources on the AAP Web site about delivering culturally effective care.
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