As the U.S. population becomes increasingly diverse, the healthcare system faces new challenges in its efforts to better serve the needs of its changing population.
To that end, hospitals and healthcare providers must be prepared to make the necessary accommodations that are both respectful of and responsive to an increasingly diverse patient population. That’s according to a new report issued by the Joint Commission, an independent nonprofit organization that evaluates hospitals.
The commission, whose accreditation can affect whether a hospital gets Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, recently announced new standards on effective communication and cultural competence designed to improve patient care. Hospitals will have until next year to integrate the practices before the Joint Commission starts grading them in 2012.
