Bridging Gaps in Public Health: A Pharmacy’s Commitment to Culturally Competent Care in AANHPI Communities

In our latest interview highlighting Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) public health professionals, we continued our conversation with the Filipino immigrant owners of ACTS Pharmacy and Healthcare Services — a locally trusted provider recognized for its culturally competent care. They shared:

“As Filipino immigrants, we value the importance of diverse cultural perspectives,      and our pharmacy reflects that by serving a wide range of populations in Tacoma,            including immigrants and the AANHPI community.”

As their pharmacy’s mission states, they're dedicated to providing pharmaceutical and clinical care that extends beyond medication dispensing. “We emphasize accessibility and healthcare equality, ensuring that every individual, regardless of their background, receives the care they need with understanding and respect.”

The Practice of Culturally Competent Care

In today’s landscape of public health, cultural competency is a necessity. For the owners of ACTS Pharmacy and their team, it’s a core value of their practice in delivering care. As they shared their first-hand experience:

“We remember working with a patient from a Southeast Asian background who was  hesitant to get vaccinated due to a mistrust of government programs, which was rooted in experiences from their home country. By taking the time to listen and explain how vaccines are a crucial part of protecting individual and community health in their new environment, we were able to build trust and ensure they received the vaccine.”

In this instance, their practice of cultural competency was able to help destigmatize the fear surrounding vaccinations and allowed them to deliver care in a way that was both respectful and effective. “By taking time to listen to their story, we were able to address their fears in a way that aligned with their cultural perspective,” they explained. "This personalized, culturally competent approach not only eased their concerns but also fostered trust, making them more willing to participate in future health interventions.”

The Importance of Cultural Awareness in Public Health Initiatives

When implementing public health initiatives, it is important to take into consideration the diverse cultural backgrounds, values, and needs of the communities we serve. “Creating more inclusive public health programs for the AANHPI community involves listening to and understanding the specific needs of the community through engagement and collaboration,” they explained. “It is important to work with community leaders, cultural ambassadors, and healthcare providers from the AANHPI community to ensure that programs are designed with their unique health challenges and cultural values in mind.”

In this case, accessibility plays a vital role in fostering an inclusive healthcare environment. To help educate our community, materials should be available in multiple languages and tailored to reflect the cultural values of our diverse AANHPI populations. Additionally, our interviewees also emphasized the need to meet people where they are – both literally and figuratively. “It is equally important to offer outreach in community spaces where AANHPI individuals feel comfortable, such as cultural centers or faith-based organizations,” they explained. These environments, such as the APCC, can help bridge the gap between public health and the communities we aim to serve.

Collaboration with Local Health Jurisdictions (LHJs)

The relationship between frontline providers like ACTS Pharmacy and local health authorities is critical within the public health sector. Such collaboration ensures that healthcare providers have access to the resources, guidance, and support they need to serve our AANHPI communities well.

“A thriving relationship between frontline providers like ACTS Pharmacy and Local Health Jurisdictions (LHJs) is crucial because it allows for better coordination and resource sharing,” they emphasized. “LHJs play a key role in community health by providing public health data, vaccination programs, and resources for disease prevention.” By working closely together, both LHJs and local providers can respond more effectively to the evolving needs of the populations they serve.

As a result, this kind of collaboration helps build a more connected, resilient public health system — one that is better able to support culturally diverse populations like our AANHPI communities.

Final Thoughts

In closing, our Filipino-identifying pharmacy owners were able to reflect on their own lived experiences and how they have come to shape their pharmacy’s values in delivering culturally competent care. “Our work is focused on ensuring that underserved and immigrant populations, particularly from the AANHPI community, receive the care they need in a respectful and understanding manner,” they said.

“By embracing diversity and working together, we can create a healthier, more inclusive future where every individual’s health is valued and supported,” they continued. In a time when culturally competent care is more essential than ever, ACTS Pharmacy and Healthcare Services serves as a reminder of the vital role local organizations play in public health — connecting our communities through compassionate care and building trust amongst our AANHPI populations.