The concept of the healing process varies amongst individuals. A single individual is influenced by many aspects of life, some of which include socioeconomic status, level of education, culture, and religion. When it comes to healing through medicine, all of these factors should be considered. While some may believe in the “Western” method of healing through prescription medication, others believe in healing through herbal supplements, plants, aromatherapy, acupuncture, and so on. As a healthcare professional, it is critical to understand that these beliefs exist and affect the choices that patients make to adhere to their medication. Cultural competency is one of the most important skills that should be obtained by every healthcare professional …show more content…
This is due to its fast-paced nature as well as the minimal time, if any time, spent by pharmacists speaking with the patients about their medications. When an opportunity presents itself for a pharmacist to speak to their patient, it is less likely that the patient will trust what the pharmacist is saying due to the lack of previous encounters. This can be particularly difficult if there is an existing language barrier. When messages are not transferred properly between a patient and a pharmacist, it is not only frustrating for both, but extremely dangerous to the patient’s health. Ease of communication through a common language allows for the proper sending and receiving of messages and can go even further as to saving the pharmacists time and allowing them to tend to more patients, improving the overall health of a …show more content…
I quickly understood the impact that being bilingual has on the health of patients. It created a starting point for an important conversation and a healthier life for this patient as she agreed to give insulin a try. At times, it is assumed that a patient is aware of concepts that seem obvious to healthcare professionals. If pharmacists do not create a path of communication, they may never know the core of patient