Please save the date of July 30 when the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council Foundation (DFWHC Foundation) hosts the educational event “Educating the Next CLAS: Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Today’s Healthcare Environment.” This special day-long event will take place in UT Arlington’s Rio Grande Room from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

This is a great opportunity to discuss ways to provide respectful quality healthcare responsive to the diverse needs of the community. The session will address the standards of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) in Health and Health Care. It will also explore policies and best practices regarding workforce, language assistance, continuous improvement and accountability.

Studies show that minority Americans experience poorer than average outcomes. More than 30 percent of direct medical costs faced by African Americans, Hispanics and Asian Americans are due to health inequities—almost $60 billion each year. Research has shown that cultural competency can improve care for ethnic groups and reduce costs over the life of a patient. To register, please go to http://ce.unthsc.edu/live/73. For information, contact Crystee Cooper at ccooper@dfwhcfoundation.org.