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DEI Resources

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Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Summit 2023

The Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion is proud to offer the following resources to visitors, staff and students across our health system.

Religious and Spiritual Care

Spiritual care, which includes but isn’t limited to religious care, must be given in an equal and fair way to all patients of all faith communities — or those who do not belong to one. Our Pastoral Care and Chaplaincy Department suggests the following guidelines when serving the needs of a multifaith population.

  • When in doubt, ask the patient or their visitors how they want to be looked after and how they would like to be addressed.

  • Remember not all cultures have a pre-name then a surname.

  • Remember it is not always acceptable for men and women to shake hands when they greet someone, and some patients may not be comfortable doing so.

AtlantiCare Spiritual Support for Patients and Visitors

Our spiritual support specialists are trained to give spiritual care that meets each individual’s needs, whether they adhere to a particular religious tradition or none at all. Sacramental ministry and other spiritual support are available upon request.

How to Access a Chaplain

We have a staff chaplain at each hospital as well as a Roman Catholic chaplain at each campus. They are present throughout the week and are available via pager when not at the hospital. Simply ask the operator or a staff member to page the chaplains, and they’ll be in touch as soon as possible. Complete contact information is available here.

Cultural Competence

What is cultural competence?

In the world of healthcare, cultural competence means accommodating diverse beliefs, attitudes, values and behaviors. It requires all staff to understand the impact of cultural differences on the way they perform their roles, and allows it us to personalize healthcare based on those differences.

From race, socioeconomics and linguistics to physical and mental ability, health literacy, gender identity and sexual orientation, these cultural differences can influence when and how patients seek care. It can also influence their expectations of care, treatment preferences, willingness to follow a provider’s recommendations and whom they believe should be making their healthcare decisions.

Why is it necessary?

Our job as healthcare providers is to promote positive experiences and outcomes for each and every patient. By improving understanding between patient and provider, cultural competence allows us to better serve that purpose and to break down barriers between patients and the care they need. As the U.S. population continues to diversify, this goal — including addressing linguistic differences — is more important than ever.

Cultural competence leads to more patient participation and engagement, and patients gain a better understanding of the care they are receiving while building a level of trust that is crucial to patient comfort and safety. Clear communication allows for better and more accurate information gathering, and encourages patients to ask questions and take an active role in their care. It even has benefits for the provider, reducing inefficiencies, care disparities and costs.

Culturally and linguistically appropriate services (CLAS)

This is a national set of standards for responding to individual preferences and needs, and for improving outcomes while decreasing health disparities. The principal standard involves delivering care that is effective, understandable and respectful. AtlantiCare has fully implemented these CLAS services across every service line and offering.

For questions, please email diversity@atlanticare.org.