Clear communication is one of the most important factors in achieving positive health outcomes, yet for many families, language barriers can make accessing health care more difficult. Throughout his career at Children’s Mercy, John (JC) Cowden, MD addressed that challenge by creating an internal program focused on better serving patients and families who speak languages other than English. His work centered on a simple but powerful idea: every person deserves to be understood and to understand the care they receive.
Cowden’s commitment to language access grew from his own experience. As he pursued his goal of becoming a bilingual pediatrician, he discovered there were few opportunities for healthcare professionals to develop and validate the language skills needed to provide care safely and effectively. Rather than accepting a system that left multilingual communication to chance, he helped create a model that treats language and cultural competency as professional skills that can be taught, coached, and strengthened over time.
Cowden’s vision continues today through Adelante KC, an initiative that supports healthcare professionals in delivering high-quality care across languages and cultures. “Communication is the essential skill that we need as healthcare providers, and all human services providers need to make sure that they’re going to avoid harm and also have an optimal outcome,” said Cowden. By providing individualized coaching and organizational support, the program helps build a workforce that is better equipped to meet the needs of Kansas City’s diverse communities.
At the center of this work are five essential practices that help clinicians communicate more clearly and effectively with every patient and family. These practices include
1. plain language, which focuses on using clear and accessible words
2. teach-back, which ensures understanding by asking patients to explain information in their own words
3. cultural humility, which emphasizes curiosity and respect for each person’s lived experience
4. cultural competence, which builds practical skills for engaging across cultures
5. trauma-informed, person-centered care, which recognizes each individual’s experience while keeping their needs at the center of every interaction
When people have access to services in ways that respect their language, culture, and lived experience, barriers are reduced and outcomes improve. This foundational initiative that Cowden helped build continues to strengthen connections between providers and communities, creating a more inclusive region where everyone has a greater opportunity to thrive.