The number of immigrants entering the United States has been rapidly increasing over the last few years. For instance, the number of Asians in the United States has grown to more than 9 million in 1996. In 1996, there were over 28 million Hispanics in the United States, and the numbers are only increasing. The rapid growth of these two cultures in United States has made overcoming cultural barriers crucial in managing a non-profit healthcare clinic.

A predominate social barrier in dealing with those from the Asian culture is their reluctance to disclose personal information to anyone outside of t

Often a doctor who went to medical school in a third world country is not instructed in the latest in medical technology. In extenuating circumstances, these doctors are allowed visas to the United States as long as the doctor works in an area, which is designated as a HPSA (health physician shortage area). These doctors, not being aware of the technology available to them in the United States, often rely on older and less effective methods of treating patients.

5. National Catholic Bioethics Center, Ethical Principle in Catholic Health Care, http://www.nbcenter.org/cubs_ethicalpriciple.html

Another common barrier between cultures is the difference in language. According to the 1990 United States Census Bureau, almost 2,300 people in Oklahoma over the age of 18 do not speak any English. Over 48,000 of Oklahomans are Spanish speaking. One problem language barriers create is the inability of the patients to communicate with the physician. Often, the physician is unable to clearly understand the symptoms the patient is describing. According to Charles Warren, an anesthesia technician at Mercy Health Center, only 8% of the doctors in the hospitals are multilingual. The breakdown in communication between the doctor and patient can multiply the possibilities of a misdiagnosis. This can cause harm to the patient and make doctors vulnerable to malpractice lawsuits. Another danger, associated with a language barrier, is the possibility of the patients misunderstanding the doctor's instructions for the medication.

2. Karen A. Woodrow and Jeffrey S. Passel, Post-IRCA undocumented immigration to the United States: "An Assessment Based on the June 1988 CPS", p. 53,

3. Bean, Edmonston, and Passel, Undocumented Migration to the U.S. Washington, The RAND Corporation 1990

When dealing with these two different religions a non-profit health care clinic must find different ways of helping the patient. The patient needs to be forthright in mentioning how they need to be treated. For instance, a practicing Catholic needs to mention to the doctor that they will not need any information on birth control or family planning. A practicing Buddhist should mention they use holistic medicine. The doctor needs to take the initiative to learn about the religious issues so that he/she can practice, or employ a licensed alternative practitioner to provide these services.

A solution for this would be to provide an interpreter to assist the doctor while treating this patient. Many healthcare facilities, such has Mercy Hospital, have a variety of employees who are multilingual, so they may be called upon to provide translation between and doctor and a patient. The hospital's MIS (Medical Information System) tracks these employees. One option currently available is known as a translator box. It is a service available where the attending physician calls an 800 number and is connected with the interpreter company, the physician informs the company what language he/she needs,

Some common words found in the essay are:
Bowen Therapy, Information System, Differences Asian, Welfare Act, Catholic Church, Hispanics United, Charge Law, Health Center, Services Administration, Hispanic Asian, health care, medical technology, non-profit health, non-profit health care, birth control, advances medical, hispanic asian, health center, asian culture, seek medical, hispanic population, advances medical technology, ethical principle catholic, catholic health care, principle catholic health,
Approximate Word count = 2017
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)