A diverse and equitable workforce is essential to a CHC meeting the needs of the communities it serves. Research documents the importance of a diverse workforce for improving marginalized populations’ access to care and, in turn, promoting health equity. Workforce diversity also is associated with greater satisfaction with care received, improved patient experience, and enhanced patient-provider communication. The CHC’s executive leadership team has the discretion and ability to prioritize workforce diversity and equity; it establishes a vision for a diverse workforce that looks like and speaks the same languages as patients served, makes the decisions needed to actualize that vision, and allocates the resources needed for managing diversity.
- Conduct a diversity, equity, and inclusion assessment that includes questions about the extent to which the CHC’s clinicians and staff reflect communities served.
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Conduct an employee survey to solicit feedback about systems of power at the CHC, as well as identify how staff feel about the CHC’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts to date. The survey will provide additional data that leaders may use to understand the equity of existing organizational practices and potential areas of concern.
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Convene a committee dedicated to advancing workforce diversity, equity, and inclusion across the CHC; the committee should include diverse staff representatives from across the organization, as well as executive leadership and Board representation.
- A Diversity and Cultural Proficiency Assessment Tool for Leaders: Developed as part of the National Center for Healthcare Leadership project, “Study of Factors Affecting the Career Advancement of Women and Racially/Ethnically Diverse Individuals in Healthcare Management,” this tool includes an assessment, action steps, and case studies to assist CHC team to assess diversity in their workplace. (https://www.aha.org/system/files/2018-02/DiversityTool.pdf)
- 4 Ways to Improve Workplace Diversity and Equity Hiring: Authored by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s Human Resources Director for Talent Acquisition, this article outlines four steps that CHC can take to improve workplace diversity and develop a more equitable culture. (http://www.ihi.org/communities/blogs/4-ways-to-improve-workplace-diversity-and-equity-hiring)