Every person needs healthcare today. However, some people don’t seek this care when needed because they don’t see diversity in the sector.
They feel most comfortable with someone they can relate to. It is easier for them to talk about the problems they are experiencing. In addition, they are more likely to follow the treatment plan and be satisfied with their care when they share characteristics with the provider.
Creating a Diverse Workforce
Healthcare organizations must hire employees who possess different qualities. How can an organization approach ensuring your staff is diverse? Diversity goes beyond race, gender, ethnicity, and age today.
For patients to feel included, they may also want to see diversity regarding other personal characteristics. They may want a provider who shares their political beliefs, physical disabilities, culture, or sexual orientation. Each patient has their preferences regarding their healthcare providers.
Organizations need a diverse workforce to ensure each patient can find one or more professionals with whom they share a connection. This diversity leads to cultural competency and the ability of organizations to provide services that fulfill the needs of all patients.
The Benefits of Diversity in Healthcare
Diversity in healthcare has several benefits. Employee morale is higher because diversity creates a feeling of inclusion and community. Workers enjoy coming in each day. Employee retention rates increase when the workforce is diverse, and it becomes easier to recruit top talent.
Employees are more motivated when there is diversity in the workplace. Their need to fit in will be less intense. They can be themselves and speak up when they feel the need to. This diversity also leads to better problem-solving, as there will be many different perspectives when a challenge arises. A new solution might be found thanks to the input from various perspectives.
Embracing diversity is also a key strategy to effectively retain your providers, as a more inclusive environment fosters loyalty and long-term engagement.
As mentioned, patients feel more comfortable visiting a diverse healthcare organization. Studies show that diverse healthcare organizations see better results. This may be due to increased compliance by patients. They feel comfortable taking medical advice from someone they relate to and will stick with the treatment plan.
What Happens When a Healthcare Organization Lacks Diversity?
A lack of diversity within the organization can lead to communication breakdowns. This breakdown can lead to avoidable medical errors.
The lack of different perspectives could also lead to one or more elements related to a patient’s health being missed. Each person has their own biases.
This implicit bias can harm patients unintentionally. A diverse workforce can address these biases and bring them to light before they cause problems. Finally, a diverse workforce attracts diverse candidates for open positions.
Promoting Diversity in Healthcare
Healthcare executives need to promote diversity in the workplace by creating a welcoming environment for all and encouraging diverse applicants to apply for open positions.
When bias or discrimination is observed, the organization must address it promptly. Listen when current workers express concerns and understand that diversity has far-reaching effects.
An organization shouldn’t strive to become more diverse to look good on paper. It needs to become more diverse to better meet patients’ needs and provide a higher level of care. That should always be the ultimate goal.
Diversity in healthcare is vital today. Many barriers exist in the industry, including culture, ethnicity, and language. A diverse workplace helps overcome these barriers, which could mean the difference between life and death.
Increasing the diversity of the workforce and promoting inclusion won’t happen overnight. The organization must be committed to the process. Those organizations will be able to provide the highest level of care, which is what medical professionals enter the industry to do.
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