The last several decades have seen massive improvements in the American healthcare system. That being said, there are still serious problems that need to be addressed in order for healthcare to serve all patients equitably.
In particular, one major issue that many medical institutions face is a lack of diversity among staff. While some headway has been made and more qualified healthcare professionals from varying backgrounds are entering the field, there’s still more work to be done.
Beyond social justice, diverse healthcare staff can actually play a key role in helping patients achieve optimal health outcomes. Understanding the context around why this is the case is crucial for gaining a more robust perspective on the current state of American healthcare.
Here’s the link between staff diversity and improved patient results.
Understanding Racial Disparities in the American Healthcare System
Though it’s a disheartening fact to face, the truth is that the American healthcare system still suffers from racial disparities. In essence, people from certain marginalized racial backgrounds are statistically more likely to experience adverse health consequences.
The reason for this is broad and there are many factors that cause this to happen. For one, many people from certain marginalized backgrounds experience higher rates of being uninsured for healthcare. As a result, these individuals are less likely to seek out treatment for ailments before they become severe or get routine check-ups.
Another key disparity in healthcare treatment is the way that patients from marginalized backgrounds are referred to specialists. Studies have shown that patients of African American descent are typically referred to specialists significantly less than patients from other backgrounds. As a result, they’re more likely to develop a slew of severe health ailments that can not only negatively impact their lives, but possibly even cost them their lives.
Finally, one of the most glaringly obvious displays of racial disparities in healthcare is suboptimal treatment for patients from marginalized backgrounds. Though it’s difficult to believe, studies have shown that these patients are treated less effectively than their non-marginalized counterparts.
Ultimately, these examples show the significant amount of inequity still evident in the American healthcare system today. However, though this current state of affairs is disheartening, there are keyways to move forward. Specifically, in the ways that medical offices, hospitals, and other healthcare organizations are staffed.
The Benefits of Staff Diversity in Healthcare
While there is a wide variety of ways that the healthcare system can be made better, making healthcare staff more diverse can be an incredibly effective and beneficial way to start. Believe it or not, efforts of these types even have the power to improve the health outcomes of countless patients.
One reason that diversity is important in healthcare staff is that diverse staff are more likely to provide equitable treatment to all patients. Whereas patients who don’t find themselves represented among their healthcare providers are more at risk of being treated poorly, the inverse is also true.
In addition to this, a diverse staff will help company culture evolve and help everyone pinpoint their biases. The tricky thing about discriminatory biases is that they’re not always conscious. Rather, many people unconsciously treat people differently depending on their race and background.
Fortunately, having a diverse staff will help everyone notice their preconceived notions and, as a result, increase the number of opportunities they have to fix these attitudes. Ultimately, this will increase the equity of care that all patients receive by ensuring that patients from marginalized backgrounds aren’t being treated with bias.
Beyond the actual healthcare treatment of patients, diverse healthcare staff can also increase the amount that patients are being educated about healthcare topics. Where it might not occur to healthcare workers of certain backgrounds to thoroughly educate their patients, healthcare staff from marginalized backgrounds themselves will be more likely to take the time to engage in this practice.
As can be seen, promoting more diverse staff in healthcare settings has the power to radically improve the lives of countless patients by improving their health outcomes. This being the case, healthcare organizations can be more effective in their aim to help patients by promoting diverse staff in their institutions.
Diverse Healthcare Staff is Important
Though there are many ways that the American healthcare system needs to evolve, increasing the diversity of healthcare staff can be a great place to start. From making patients from diverse backgrounds feel more comfortable in medical settings to actually making healthcare organizations more effective in treating patients, there’s a wide variety of benefits to be found in this practice.
Hopefully, as we delve deeper into the future, more and more organizations will see the profound benefits of diversity in healthcare and, as a result, will promote this practice wherever possible.
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Guest Author Bio
Sarah Daren
With a Bachelor’s in Health Science along with an MBA, Sarah Daren has a wealth of knowledge within both the health and business sectors. Her expertise in scaling and identifying ways tech can improve the lives of others has led Sarah to be a consultant for a number of startup businesses, most prominently in the wellness industry, wearable technology and health education. She implements her health knowledge into every aspect of her life with a focus on making America a healthier and safer place for future generations to come.
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