Md. Code Ann., Health-Gen. § 20-1301 - Definitions

The term "cultural and linguistic competency" is defined to mean cultural and linguistic abilities that can be used to provide health care services including:

• Direct communication in the patient's primary language;
• Understanding and applying the roles that culture, ethnicity, and race play in diagnosis, treatment, and clinical care; and
• Awareness of how the attitudes, values, and beliefs of health care providers and patients influence and impact professional and patient relations.

"Health care professional" is defined to include a physician, nurse, dentist, social worker, psychologist, pharmacist, health educator, or other allied health professional.