As a result of the current Federal government funding situation, the information on this website may not be up to date or acted upon. Updates regarding government operating status and resumption of normal operations can be found at www.opm.gov . Despite the lapse in appropriations, IHS will continue to provide direct clinical health care services as well as referrals for contracted services that cannot be provided through IHS clinics. For more information on how IHS is impacted, visit: HHS Contingency Plan
Health Communications
Culture affects how people communicate, understand, and respond to health information. Cultural and linguistic competency of health professionals contribute to health literacy. These competencies include the ability of health organizations and practitioners to recognize the cultural beliefs, values, attitudes, traditions, language preferences, and health practices of American Indian/Alaska Natives and to apply that knowledge and communicate in a manner to produce positive health outcomes. Healthcare professionals have their own culture and language. Many adopt the "culture of medicine" and the language of their specialty as a result of their training and work environment. This can affect how health professionals communicate with the public.
Health Communication tools include:
- Internet Access
- Health Literacy
- Patient Education Materials (including handouts)
- Plain Language guidance
- And a Patient-Provider Communication toolkit
Learn More about Healthcare Communications.