New E-learning tool to address cultural competency in oral health

The U.S. Dept of Health & Human Services Office of Minority Health has launched a new e-learning tool to address cultural competency in oral health based on the National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health and Health Care.

Why Provide Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Oral Health Care?

Have you ever had a time when you did not know how to best serve a patient from a different background than your own? Have you ever been frustrated when trying to communicate with patients from diverse populations? As the U.S. population becomes more and more diverse, did you know that racial and ethnic minorities are more likely to have worse oral health outcomes?

This e-learning program gives you the basic cultural and linguistic competency knowledge and skills so that you can:

• Expand your patient base by providing more culturally and linguistically appropriate care to a wider diversity of patients;
• Deliver a higher quality of care to help your patients meet their oral health care goals, while honoring and respecting their cultural beliefs and practices;
• Decrease clinical errors that may arise due to cultural and linguistic differences in communication and differences in oral health literacy;
• Gain essential tools to help recognize and lessen the racial and ethnic health care disparities that persist in oral health.

The courses target Dental Assistants, Dental Hygienists, Dentists, Dental Specialists, and any other professional who has the unique opportunity to help improve access to care, quality of care, and oral health outcomes of all patients.

Learn more at https://oralhealth.thinkculturalhealth.hhs.gov/