Inclusive Language and Health Equity Resources

The WSMA and WSMA Foundation identified the need to mitigate the harm of racism perpetuated throughout medicine and set a goal to develop a plan for physicians and PAs to build authentic relationships of trust with diverse communities through mentorship, education, and community support programs.

This web page is a starting point for medical professionals to learn about building trust with their patients.

Best Practices for Culturally Sensitive Care

Building and maintaining trustworthy relationships with your patients is critical to delivering equitable and culturally sensitive care. Make the commitment today to advance health equity for the patients you serve. The WSMA and the WSMA Foundation has developed the following guidance for delivering culturally sensitive care.

Delivering Culturally Sensitive Care to Improve Rates of Colon Cancer Screenings

Colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancer diagnosed in the United States with about 4.2% of men and women being diagnosed at some point in their lifetime. Currently, the U.S. Preventive Services Taskforce recommends starting screening for colorectal cancer at age 50, with some risk factors such as a family history indicating earlier screening. In Washington state, of adults aged 50-75, only 63% with commercial insurance and 43% with Medicaid received screening, with variation by county.

Delivering Culturally Sensitive Care to Improve Rates of Colon Cancer Screenings one-pager  

Delivering Culturally Sensitive Care to Prevent Maternal Mortality

The U.S. has the worst maternal mortality rate among developed nations. Death rates amongst Black birthing people are higher than other racial groups. Black birthing people are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than White birthing people. Pregnancy-related mortality is preventable if the root causes are identified and addressed early on.

Delivering Culturally Sensitive Care to Prevent Maternal Mortality one-pager

Delivering Culturally Sensitive Care to Improve Early Detection of Endometrial Cancer

Endometrial cancer is detectable early due to symptoms such as postmenopausal bleeding. It is always treatable and often cured. Black women have a 98% higher rate of death from endometrial cancer compared to white women, much of which is due to late-stage diagnosis. The goal is to have no difference in stage of endometrial cancer diagnosis by race, class, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.

Delivering Culturally Sensitive Care to Improve Early Detection of Endometrial Cancer one-pager