This e-learning program will equip health care providers with competencies that will enable them to better treat the increasingly diverse U.S. population.

Working in the medical field, you’ve surely seen the need for an interpreter at least once in a while, if not every day. Fortunately, many clinics now make sure this type of professional is available to help doctors and patients communicate. If you’re not yet used to having a medical interpreter in the office with you, here’s how to get familiar with this situation so you and your patients can benefit from interpreting services right away.

Effective health communication is as important to healthcare as clinical skill. To improve individual health and build healthy communities, healthcare providers need to recognize and address the unique culture, language and health literacy of diverse consumers and communities.

Research suggests that LGBT individuals face health disparities linked to societal stigma, discrimination, and denial of their civil and human rights. Discrimination against LGBT persons has been associated with high rates of psychiatric disorders, substance abuse, and suicide. Experiences of violence and victimization are frequent for LGBT individuals, and have long-lasting effects on the individual and the community. Personal, family, and social acceptance of sexual orientation and gender identity affects the mental health and personal safety of LGBT individuals.

CLAS is a way to improve the quality of services provided to all individuals, which will ultimately help reduce health disparities and achieve health equity. CLAS is about respect and responsiveness: Respect the whole individual and respond to the individual’s health needs and preferences. The National CLAS Standards are a set of 15 action steps intended to advance health equity, improve quality, and help eliminate health care disparities by providing a blueprint for individuals and healthcare organizations to implement culturally and linguistically appropriate services