Definitions

So what’s an “underrepresented” group?

“Underrepresented in medicine means those racial and ethnic populations that are underrepresented in the medical profession relative to their numbers in the general population.”

Institute of Medicine:Unequal Treatment

“Disparities in the healthcare delivered to racial and ethnic minorities are real and are associated with worse outcomes in many cases, which is unacceptable.”

Alan Nelson, M.D., Chair, Institute of Medicine Committee on Understanding and Eliminating Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care, former president of the American Medical Association, March 2002.

Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education

The six general competencies:

• Medical Knowledge

• Patient Care

• Systems-Based Practice

• Practice-Based Learning and Improvement

• Interpersonal & Communication Skills

• Professionalism

ACGME: Interpersonal and Communication Skills

“Residents must demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that result in the effective exchange of information and collaboration with patients, their families, and health professionals.”

“Residents are expected to communicate effectively with patients, families, and the public, as appropriate, across a broad range of socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds…”

ACGME: Professionalism

“Residents are expected to demonstrate:

1. compassion, integrity, and respect for others;

2. sensitivity and responsiveness to a diverse patient population, including but not limited to diversity in gender, age, culture, race, religion, disabilities, and sexual orientation.”

The Joint Commission (JCAHO)

• “One Size Does Not Fit All: Diverse Populations Pose Special Health Needs”

• Joint Commission Report Provides Tool to Assess and Overcome Language, Cultural Barriers

• Build a foundation • Collect and use data to improve services• Accommodate the needs of specific populations • Establish internal and external collaborations

http://www.jointcommission.org/NR/rdonlyres/88C2C901-6E4E-4570-95D8-B49BD7F756CF/0/HLC_One_Size_PrePub.pdf

Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME)

“Aspiring future physicians will be best prepared for medical practice in a diverse

society if they learn in an environment characterized by, and supportive of,

diversity and inclusion.”

http://www.lcme.org/standard.htm