MEDICAL CONSIDERATION IN  Healthcare providers should be

TERMS OF RELIGION respectful of a patient’s religious and

 Cultural competence is the ability of spiritual needs.
health providers and organizations to
deliver health care services that meet the
cultural, social, and religious needs of
patients and their families.
 Culturally competent care can improve
patient quality and care outcomes.
 Why? It is right to be accountable for
maintaining patient rights, including
accommodation for cultural, religious,
and spiritual values. Healthcare
professionals and systems must care for
patients as whole persons; this includes
the body, mind, and spirit.
 Why is religion important in
healthcare? The challenge for health
professionals is in understanding that
patients often turn to their religious
and spiritual beliefs when making
medical decisions [ CITATION Swi21 \l
1033 ].
 For example decisions regarding diet,
medicines based on animal products,
modesty, and the preferred gender of
their health providers. Some religions
have strict prayer times that may
interfere with medical treatment.