Cultural competence in veterinary practice

JAVMA, Vol 243, No. 3, August 1, 2013 C competence, diversity, and inclusion are all hot topics right now, but the terminology is still somewhat new to many veterinarians. The terms are often used interchangeably or inaccurately, but this lack of understanding has the potential to cause problems for veterinarians in clinical practice, who are increasingly engaging with a diverse clientele. Illustrating the importance of these topics, the North American Veterinary Medical Education Consortium included an understanding of diversity and multicultural awareness in the list of core competencies expected of veterinary students at the time of graduation. We firmly believe that integrating cultural competence into day-to-day veterinary clinical practice will have the potential to enhance animal care, expand one’s client base, and positively impact revenue. Understanding the importance of cultural competence first requires an understanding of the terminology.