Just ten years ago, a family from East Jerusalem or new immigrants from Ethiopia or Russia with a child in need of hospitalization could have easily felt lost upon entering a medical facility and not being able to read the signs – which may have been only in Hebrew – that would direct them to the appropriate department. Even worse, they may not have had available to them any medical translators to explain the doctors' diagnoses or instructions from the nurses.

That was before Israel's Ministry of Health established directives for increased cultural competency on the part of healthcare providers. At the time, ALYN Hospital was well ahead of the curve with both an on-site synagogue and a separate designated Muslim prayer room (which has since been expanded due to high demand), as well as signs translated to English and Arabic, trained medical translators and a cultural competency training program for staff members. ALYN was recognized as "The most culturally competent hospital in Israel" by the Jerusalem Inter-Cultural Center.

Since then, ALYN Hospital has continued to prioritize ensuring a welcoming atmosphere for staff, patients and families of all religious and ethnic backgrounds. Hearing Arabic being spoken by a physical therapist who wears a kippah instructing a child to walk slowly and carefully is not uncommon in the halls of the hospital. There are many examples of special patient/therapist relationships made stronger by ALYN’s commitment to creating such an inclusive environment.