The terms diversity and inclusion are commonly used in various contexts, but they have only recently been brought into the discussion about healthcare. The healthcare workforce must include individuals from diverse backgrounds to provide the best possible care to their patients.
There are necessary steps that healthcare organizations and providers must take to improve the diversity and inclusion of their workforce. Doing so can help attract and retain high-performing employees and enhance the quality of patient care. Besides providing the best possible care, having a diverse staff can also help patients feel more comfortable during their stay in the hospital.
Improved Patient Relationships
Being able to approach patients with an open mind and acceptance is very important so that healthcare providers can gain their patients’ trust. When there is prejudice in how healthcare is conducted, it can lead to patients avoiding seeking care.
It is also crucial that healthcare organizations improve the diversity and inclusion of their workforce. Making these improvements allows patients to receive the best possible care. Doing so can also help ease patients’ concerns and improve the quality of their care.
Increased Innovation and Engagement
Enhancing the diversity and inclusion of the healthcare workforce can also help attract and retain high-performing employees. Healthcare organizations must have diverse perspectives regarding making decisions and improving the process. Representing the interests of your employees can help healthcare professionals have a say in the company’s operations and policies. This can help create procedures and policies that will improve the quality of care and overall operations.
This type of innovation also increases engagement among the workforce. Engaging in your work is also a great way to retain and attract top-performing individuals. It can help reduce staff turnover and improve the quality of patient care. Whether temporary or permanent staff members are satisfied with their work, extending or referring a friend to work for your company is a win-win for both parties.
Building a Better Reputation
A company’s ability to demonstrate inclusivity and reflect on its community is essential to connect with its patients and the public. As stated before, promoting diversity and inclusion widens the pool of job seekers and can help hire more diverse individuals. In addition to attracting the best talent, the resulting enhanced care for patients will draw in new patients to an organization’s services and build a better reputation within the community.
The Risks of Diversity and Inclusion Lacking in Healthcare
A communication breakdown can happen due to various factors, such as a lack of diversity, a language barrier, or cultural differences. This leads to patients not being able to communicate their needs fully. In addition to potentially causing dangerous errors, a communication breakdown can also affect the quality of care. One of the most common reasons patients might experience limited perspectives is the lack of diversity in the medical field.
Internally within the workforce, a critical factor that healthcare professionals need to consider when it comes to improving the quality of their profession is the availability of mentors. They can help them develop their skills and build their confidence in their chosen field. Unfortunately, a lack of diversity in the medical field can prevent minority healthcare workers from finding mentors who can help them develop their skills and provide the best care.
Furthermore, although it can be explicitly stated that bias is not allowed in a healthcare setting, it can still be used to influence the decisions patients make in the healthcare system. This issue, referred to as implicit bias, is a type of discrimination that can affect the quality of patient care. A wider variety of diverse individuals in the medical field can help prevent this type of discrimination.
Diversity and inclusion attract and retain the best talent to improve the quality of patient care. The lack of diversity in the medical field can still prevent organizations from achieving their goals.
Despite the various positive effects of racial and cultural diversity, discrimination persists in the healthcare system. This issue can cause a considerable turnover cost and significantly impact the quality of care for patients.
To create a more welcoming environment for all healthcare professionals, leadership should raise awareness of implicit bias. Diversity awareness should also help them identify triggers that can affect their behavior. Providing them with training and resources will help healthcare professionals recognize ways to improve the care they provide for those from diverse backgrounds.
The failure to identify the health disparities caused by racial and cultural discrimination in the healthcare system could lead to the development of a structurally racist system and health disparities among minority populations.