Amig@s – let’s taco ’bout cultural competency in healthcare

I will keep it simple for you to understand.

Imagine going to a doctor’s office and being unable to express your concerns in your native language.

Oh, and the doctors you encounter have no idea what it’s like to grow up where you did.

But I’m not done because everything you have experienced is not even recognized.

Crazy, you might say.

But it is not; it’s frustrating and dangerous for my community.

This is more than an occasional inconvenience; it is a daily reality that results in undiagnosed or misdiagnosed conditions.

Let’s taco ‘bout this.

Here is this.

Imagine your abuelita going to the ER with chest pain; she cannot state her symptoms to the doctor because no interpreter is available.

The doctor doesn’t understand; he thinks it’s just indigestion and tells her to go home.

She had a heart attack hours later.

Now, just so you know, this is NOT an isolated case.

As research suggests, Hispanic patients with LEP are nearly two times more likely to make an iatrogenic mistake due to the communication gap.

It isn’t just a matter of ignorance; it can be a question of life and death.

So, if you are one of those healthcare providers who may think that a few Spanish words or a translation application are enough.

You are crazy.

Real cultural competency is more than just knowing another language.

It’s about knowledge of the ways in which my community experiences and conveys health issues (pain and treatment).

Without this, even the best of medical intentions can fail.

If you do not know this, you are completely screwed.

But I guess that is the main reason you are here.

So here is this.

Have you ever had a cafecito with your abuela and heard her talk about “susto” (a deep fear that can cause illness) or “empacho” (a traditional belief about stomach ailments)?

I know you have not, but I have… (Many times).

These are more than superstitions.

They reflect a cultural understanding of health that Western medicine often overlooks.

For example.

Hispanic patients are less likely to report pain due to cultural beliefs about endurance and strength.

If a provider is NOT aware of this, they might assume the patient isn’t in much pain and prescribe inadequate treatment.

Similarly, mental health is often a taboo topic in Hispanic households.

A provider very unfamiliar with these cultural nuances might miss signs of depression or anxiety, dismissing them as just “stress.”

Here is the reality.

A healthcare professional without cultural competency risks misdiagnosing a patient who is Hispanic.

It’s time to stop treating cultural competency as optional training and start embedding it into the very fabric of healthcare.

Here is why, and trust me.

There is no better way of feeling about and doing healthcare than this.

When providers take the time to understand their patients’ cultural backgrounds, outcomes improve.

There is no doubt about this.

Feel free to listen to my friend Luis Suarez from Sanarai.

Now, if you are part of a healthcare organization that invests in interpreter services, culturally tailored health education, and diverse staffing.

You’ll, with no doubt, see higher patient satisfaction and better health results.

Please note that this is not about political correctness; it’s about saving lives, so do not get it twisted.

If the only Spanish-speaking person in your hospital is the cafeteria worker, you have a problem.

Language isn’t just about words; it’s about trust and quality care.

When my community can NOT communicate their symptoms, they risk misdiagnosis, poor treatment, and worse health outcomes.

Yet, in many hospitals, linguistic diversity is an afterthought rather than a priority.

So, hiring bilingual staff is not just a courtesy; it’s a necessity.

However, it should not stop at front-desk workers or interpreters.

Every level of healthcare.

From nurses to physicians to hospital leadership should reflect the diverse communities they serve.

Without this.

My community is left navigating a system that wasn’t designed for them, leading to distrust and delayed care.

So, in reality, representation is not about filling quotas.

It’s about ensuring that when someone walks into a hospital, they don’t have to fight to be heard, understood, and properly treated.

OMG – I have to be honest; I laughed at this after reading it.

Just so you know, even though I’m from Colombia, I do not know how to dance. But who cares? LOL…

So here is my point.

A one-hour webinar on cultural sensitivity is NOT enough.

It’s like watching a YouTube video on salsa dancing and thinking you’re ready for dancing with the stars.

Cultural competency isn’t a checkbox; it’s a skillset.

One that should be as essential as learning to read an X-ray or take a patient’s history.

Yet, most medical schools barely scratch the surface.

So, guess what?

Providers graduate knowing how to diagnose rare conditions they’ll never see but remain clueless about the deeply ingrained health beliefs of the Hispanic patients they see every day.

So, once again.

It’s time to embed cultural competency into medical education from day one.

Providers should be learning how to recognize when a patient downplays their pain due to cultural norms.

Why a prescription might go unfilled because of multi-generational household dynamics, and how to communicate to build trust, not barriers.

Because real healthcare happens outside the textbook. (Just saying)

If we’re not preparing doctors to navigate the realities of Hispanic healthcare experiences.

We’re setting them up to fail, and (my community) will pay the price.

Healthcare is like a good taco.

It needs the right ingredients to be truly effective.

Without cultural competency, we’re missing the key seasoning that makes care accessible, safe, and effective for all.

Next time you step into a hospital or healthcare facility, ask yourself.

Is this a place where every patient, regardless of language or background, feels heard and understood?

If not, it’s time to make a change.

Hasta la vista, amigos ✌🏽

Let’s taco ‘bout this edition