Benefits of Diversity
Diversity. It can refer to rich aspects of culture, ethnicity, age, race, gender, sexual orientation, (dis)ability, religion, socioeconomic status, professional experience, and educational level. In the world of healthcare having a diverse workforce is crucial to be able to address the relative needs of each community. Organizations that strive for diversity can recruit people who reflect the composition of the community recognizing the importance of inclusivity. This means that there are core values that promote and encourage acceptance, understanding, insight, and equal input from all staff, patients, leaders, vendors, and partners. In recent years the term “cultural competence” has become an integral part of healthcare training, management, and recruitment. Today’s healthcare workplace is expected to hire from a broad base of community members, embracing differences, backgrounds, language, learning styles, and treating everyone fairly and without judgement. Understanding the vast benefits of a unified workforce reflecting people from different backgrounds, experiences, and places is crucial to deliver the highest quality of healthcare services. Additionally, maybe most importantly, a diverse workforce in the healthcare space will provide much-needed insight to address health disparities that have become glaringly obvious throughout the United States, in a post-pandemic world. Today’s healthcare providers are expected to acknowledge and measurably show meaningful steps to address and eradicate inequities that include:
The higher incidence of high blood pressure, a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, in the Black and Hispanic adult population, in comparison to White adults
Higher incidence of heart disease, stroke, and respiratory disease deaths affecting rural populations relative to urban population.
Higher life expectancies for women when compared to men. Furthermore, White women live longer than their Black and Hispanic female counterparts
Black Americans are three times more likely to die from respiratory illnesses compared to the White population
American Indians/Alaska Natives have a lower quality of life and lower life expectancy than other demographics
It is important to keep in mind that the healthcare workforce is significantly diverse. According to George Washington University in 2018 more that 2.6 million immigrants worked in healthcare, with 1.5 million providing clinical services as physicians, pharmacists, and registered nurses. Engaging the workforce into structured process to maximize opportunities from a diverse population can be a meaningful process for the staff, the patients, and the greater community. In an ideal world learning about diversity could come from within the workforce. For example, simple inclusive activities like a staff potluck meal are the perfect way for team members to share about themselves, their culture and traditions, with a shared meal featuring foods from personal history or family cookbook. While in concept that is simple, the often urgency felt in healthcare environments may be a barrier to a shared staff meal, however, overcoming that barrier should be an aspirational goal. Food is a great way to learn and build connectedness between people. For now, recognizing the benefits of a diversity staff and community is a good start.
Gaining insight and varied perspectives
Expands opportunity for improved communication
Fosters trust and understanding
Creates and atmosphere of empathy
Improves relationships amongst team members
Supports innovation and planning
Enhances creativity
Promotes effective decision making
Helps with conflict management
Raises cultural awareness
Boosts employee motivation
Increases employee engagement
Helps with staff retention
Increases feelings of job satisfaction
Improves patient care
Improves health outcomes
Builds community support
Supports career development and professional growth
Builds intergenerational connectedness
Helps to unify a healthy community
Building a workforce that thrives on diversity is good for public health. Healthcare organizations are often the platform for healthy communities with the provision of services for all people, from the most vulnerable to the most affluent, and everyone in between. Healthcare providers who can align with all people and do so by addressing the diverse needs within the community, will ultimately positively impact community and faith-based organizations, municipalities and regions, conglomerates, as well as local, small businesses. Health-related organizations that lead with appreciation of diversity will have downstream affects that can improve longevity and quality of life for all residents.
Examine and gain insight into the demographics of your community – If you work for healthcare system that conducts community health needs assessment, spend time learning about the outcomes. Learn about the demographics, trends, notable disparities, and accomplishments, and share the information with your staff.
Evaluate diversity amongst the leadership in your workplace – do they reflect the overall community? Diversity at the highest levels of the organization show that the values come from the top.
Set goals to achieve greater diversity – get feedback and measurable input from your staff pertaining to their perspective on internal diversity. Provide appropriate modalities for everyone to share their views, without fear of reprisal (survey, focus groups, town hall meetings, etc.)
Update workplace policies to reflect diversity – create more inclusive practices that can address such things as:
Religious holidays
Dress codes
Hiring practices
Flexible scheduling
Hybrid schedules
Parental leave
Create a diversity training program – include members of the staff to serve on the multifunctional team to address training. Create a monthly diversity program to focus on different groups, religions, affinity group, and area of interest to educate and inform. Invite outside experts to share about the history of each respective diversity aspect.
Emphasize diversity on the entity’s website – announce community partners, recognize special days, and feature cultural information to educate and build connectedness.
There is so much to be gained from a diverse workforce in your community. Use this as an opportunity to learn about your neighbors, community, and local organizations. When it comes to healthcare understand that everyone wants the same thing, a happy, healthy community with trusted professionals who work to ensure that everyone will receive the best service possible.Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stated: “Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane.” Let’s work together to ensure that all healthcare is delivered for all people.