: This article develops a conceptual model of cultural competency's potential to reduce
racial and ethnic health disparities, using the cultural competency and disparities literature to lay
the foundation for the model and inform assessments of its validity. The authors identify nine major
cultural competency techniques: interpreter services, recruitment and retention policies, training,
coordinating with traditional healers, use of community health workers, culturally competent
health promotion, including family/community members, immersion into another culture, and
administrative and organizational accommodations. The conceptual model shows how these
techniques could theoretically improve the ability of health systems and their clinicians to deliver
appropriate services to diverse populations, thereby improving outcomes and reducing disparities.
The authors conclude that while there is substantial research evidence to suggest that cultural
competency should in fact work, health systems have little evidence about which cultural
competency techniques are effective and less evidence on when and how to implement them
properly. PMID: 11092163