Integrating Health Literacy, Cultural Competence, and Language Access Services: Workshop Summary

This "roundtable" discussion focused on important lessons, practical strategies, and opportunities for creating greater integration of health literacy, cultural competence, and language access services in the healthcare system. Held on October 19, 2015, the workshop brought together a select group of leaders in these three fields, including academics, health care administrators, and advocates. Sponsors of the event included various agencies with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as well as non-governmental organizations such as the Aetna Foundation and Eli Lilly and Company. In accordance with the policies of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, the workshop did not attempt to reach conclusions or make recommendations, but instead focused on the issues identified by the speakers and workshop participants. An initial presentation by Dennis Andrulis, senior research scientist at the Texas Health Institute, was followed by a panel discussion addressing two key questions:  what are the key concepts in this area, and what three things have changed over time to facilitate integration? Another panel featured presentations from four organizations that have made progress in achieving this kind of integration:  the National Committee for Quality Assurance, the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and Hofstra North Shore - LIJ School of Medicine. Upon conclusion of these sessions, three breakout groups in the areas of research, policy, and services/care were formed to discuss developments and needs in these areas. (Abstract by Prof. Nick Montalto)

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