The Latino Patient

Latinos are dramatically changing the demographic profile of the United States. Developing a strong command of the Spanish language is not a realistic goal for most health care providers wishing to establish rapport with their Latino patients. Yet, growing numbers of health professionals are realizing the importance of understanding Latino cultural values as they impact the clinical encounter. Such knowledge can enhance their ability to communicate with and treat Latino patients effectively and respectfully. The Latino Patient provides an in-depth exploration of Latino diversity; relevant cultural values; health status, beliefs and practices; and effective communication strategies. The author has developed an original, practice-oriented model that leads the health practitioner from greeting the patient to ultimately negotiating treatment. The book is hands-on, providing numerous illustrative vignettes gleaned from the author's experience.

Nilda Chong, MD, DrPH, MPH, has more than twenty years of experience in practice, in training providers in cultural competence, and in leading public health education campaigns in Latin America. She holds a doctoral degree in public health with a multicultural health specialty from the University of California at Berkeley. Dr. Chong has consulted for the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization, directed national health programs for the Ministry of Health in Panama, and taught at the School of Medicine, University of Panama, and at Florida State University. She is the national director of Kaiser Permanente's Institute for Culturally Competent Care