A Hospital that Emphasizes Culture
The New York Times reports that a hospital in Merced, California, where many ethnic Hmongs reside, created a new policy to allow patients to receive treatment from Hmong Shamans.
Jim Wilson/The New York Times
The article states that “because many Hmong rely on their spiritual beliefs to get them through illnesses, the hospital’s new Hmong shaman policy, the country’s first, formally recognizes the cultural role of traditional healers like Mr. Lee, inviting them to perform nine approved ceremonies in the hospital, including ‘soul calling’ and chanting in a soft voice.”
According to the New York Times, A recent survey of US hospitals by the Joint Commission, the largest US hospital accrediting group, concludes that many are considering and utilizing non-US culture to treat their diverse patient populations. How is cultural knowledge disseminated to people in the medical and health care fields? It’s very astute of hospitals to be aware of the way patients perceive disease and treatment across cultures. Is this the norm or an exception? Does anyone have other experiences with this type of cultural sensitivity?
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