ACEP ID:
Revised April 2021, April 2020
Reaffirmed April 2014
Originally approved April 2008 with current title, replacing "Cultural Competence and Emergency Care" (October 2001)
Emergency physicians routinely encounter patients from diverse cultural backgrounds representing various customs, practices or beliefs. Cultural awareness is the ability of physicians to understand and respond to the unique cultural needs brought by patients to the health care encounter. The physician should consider the patient’s culture as it relates to the patient’s history and presenting symptoms in recommending a treatment plan that is mutually agreed upon by the patient and physician.
The American College of Emergency Physicians believes that: