The theme of the 2010 conference is “Improving health care for culturally diverse populations: A new place on the national health agenda.” From state initiatives to accreditation standards to national health care reform, improving the health of culturally diverse populations is on the agenda of our country’s health policymakers. With the aim of reducing persistent health disparities and improving quality and access, integrating culturally and linguistically appropriate services into health care has figured prominently on the health policy agendas of the US Congress, The Joint Commission, the National Committee for Quality Assurance, the National Quality Forum, and the Institute of Medicine. Join us as we discuss the implications of these initiatives and others, in the context of the tenth anniversary of the CLAS Standards.
As home to world-class health delivery and research institutions, and neighbor to Federal agencies and leading health care organizations in the nation’s capital, Baltimore is an ideal location to hear from and raise awareness among key health care stakeholders. The State of Maryland supports many community-based and policy initiatives aimed at improving health care for its very diverse population.
The Seventh National Conference will highlight major policy initiatives and their implications for improving care for diverse patients and communities, including:
- The implications of health care reform for diverse populations,
- How to implement new standards on culturally and linguistically appropriate services from The Joint Commission and the National Committee for Quality Assurance,
- How health care organizations can respond to health IT and demographic data collection recommendations from the Institute of Medicine and federal health agencies, and
- Integrating consumer, patient, family, and community perspectives into these initiatives, and the demand for increased accountability, effectiveness, and transparency.
As in previous years, we will also have tracks on language access, cultural competence training, the culturally competent health care organization, culturally appropriate care to reduce disparities, and research/measurement – in more than 60 practice-oriented sessions that cater to both beginners and veterans. The conference will feature “cutting edge” initiatives through varied and innovative formats for presentation and discussion, while allowing participants numerous opportunities to reconnect with colleagues and network with other national and international professionals.