Can More DEI In Healthcare Boost Equitable Access To Care?
Healthcare providers and their patients are finding that it is now mission crucial to integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) into the healthcare system. The healthcare industry is responsible for providing care to people from all walks of life, regardless of their race, gender, socioeconomic status, or religious beliefs. Incorporating DEI aims to ensure that everyone receives equitable access to quality healthcare services, free from discrimination or bias.
What Inclusion Looks Like For Health Care Providers
DEI is essential for creating a healthcare system that provides equitable access to quality care for all patients. Healthcare providers must work to create a culture of inclusion, eliminate health disparities, and address the social determinants of health that impact their patients. DEI not only affects patient care, but also the way physicians are treated in the workspace. A healthcare system that prioritizes DEI is more likely to attract and retain a diverse workforce, which can improve patient outcomes, increase patient satisfaction, and reduce healthcare costs.
Training: Minorities made up 14.8% of medical school applications in the United States in 2018, compared to 46.8% of white applicants. There has been a 10.2% increase since 2021, with minorities accounting for 25% of applicants. These figures add to the reality that the healthcare industry is gradually but steadily diversifying.
“We are especially encouraged by the growth in applications and new enrollments by students in racial and ethnic groups that are underrepresented in medicine,” said Geoffrey Young, Ph.D., senior director for transforming health workforce at the Association of American Medical Colleges.
“I don’t believe that we will see large gains in the enrollment of URM [underrepresented minority] students in future years unless we continue to maintain the systemic changes that occurred for the application pool in 2021,” said family medicine physician Renée Crichlow, M.D., in Brookline, Mass. “I believe that the biggest impact on applications was the fact that many places made the MCAT — which is a very expensive test to take and to prepare for — optional, that many of the past barriers such as unpaid internships and research work were not possible during the pandemic,” Crichlow added. “There were virtual interviews that saved money on travel. Students who had generally lower wealth were able to have more competitive applications.’”
Workplace: DEI in healthcare is essential for ensuring that all patients receive the best possible care and that all employees are treated fair and just. Healthcare providers must work to create a culture of inclusion, where everyone is valued and respected. This means providing ongoing training and education on DEI topics, including unconscious bias, cultural competence, and health disparities. Incorporating DEI in the workspace increases productivity of employees and allows for a cohesive workspace where teamwork is prioritized and encouraged. This, in turn, has a favorable impact on the type of care patients receive.
Patient Interactions: Inclusion in healthcare means creating a welcoming environment where everyone feels valued and respected. This means eliminating any form of discrimination or bias, whether intentional or unintentional. Healthcare providers must work to understand the unique needs of their patients and create a safe space where they can share their concerns and receive the care they need.
Communities: Equity in healthcare means providing fair and just care to all patients, regardless of their background or circumstances. This means addressing social determinants of health, such as poverty, inadequate housing, and lack of access to healthy food and transportation. Healthcare providers must work to eliminate health disparities by ensuring that all patients receive the same quality of care, regardless of their race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status. In recent years, we have seen healthcare providers striving to address the social determinants of health that affect their patients in addition to building a diverse and inclusive environment. This has led to these healthcare entities partnering with community organizations to address issues such as poverty, food insecurity, and inadequate housing.
Diversity in healthcare means having a workforce that represents the communities they serve. A diverse healthcare workforce can better understand the cultural nuances, needs, and preferences of different patient populations. This can lead to better patient outcomes, increased patient satisfaction, and improved trust between patients and healthcare providers.
Increasing Your Hospital's Diversity
American Hospital Association Offers Tools
The AHA’s toolkit includes an assessment checklist, action steps for promoting diversity within hospitals, case studies from hospital workplaces and suggestions for additional resources.
Medical School Diversity Rising
Increasing Black Applicants
The class of students who entered medical school in the U.S. in the fall of 2021 is more diverse than practically any class that has preceded it, according to an annual report from Association of American Medical Colleges.
