Diversity Rx

It's the name of an organization I've been working with lately, but also (cleverly) a shorthand reminder of what's needed to make the US health care system a bit less confusing, alarming, and downright harmful to the folks from other countries who wash up in here in the land of the "best health care in the world" Some diversity: of perspectives, of primary languages, of outlooks in life and death and health—all are needed. Too bad they can't be prescribed.

Or maybe they can. For the next few days, attendees at a big conference in Minneapolis sponsored by Diversity Rx (and others) will have a chance to weigh in on what's needed to make health care here more "culturally competent"--that is more sensitive to important race, class, language and cultural and even biological differences among people. More info on the conference here.

I'll be reporting on what's new and exciting at the conference, from a cat-bird seat as it turns out, since I'll be coordinating a massive group conversation session in which 500 attendees will be asked to talk with one another—and to report back to us all—on how to actually achieve "Diversity Rx." Stay tuned.