Institute:Office of National Coordinator (ONC) Workforce Training Curriculum
Component:The Culture of Health Care
Unit:An Overview of the Culture of Health Care
Lecture:What is meant by "the culture of health care"
Slide content:Defining Terms: Culture of Health Care Patterns of human behavior that include the language, thoughts, communications, actions, customs, beliefs, values, and institutions of the health care system. (U.S. HHS Office of Minority Health, 2005) Behavior patterns in the health care system acquired and socially transmitted, including customs, traditions, and language. (National Library of Medicine MeSH , 2011) 13
Slide notes:If we adapt those definitions to the health care system, we come up with these definitions of the culture of health care. Using the Department of Health and Human Services definition, it would be [quote]patterns of human behavior that include the language, thoughts, communications, actions, customs, beliefs, values, and institutions of the health care system. [end quote] Using the National Library of Medicine definition, it would be [quote]behavior patterns in the health care system which are acquired and socially transmitted, including customs, traditions and language. [end quote] So this includes not only the customs, traditions, and language of doctors, nurses, and therapists, but those of patients and families, and the other individuals who work within the many settings of our health care system. 13