please respond to the following discussion post as a peer making a comment on the post. From a health care environment perspective, representation and inclusion are essential. Patient populations are diverse, so care needs to reflect the different backgrounds and experiences of individuals. Diversity amongst providers can also help deliver higher quality care with more understanding and representation. Health care systems can also see advancements and better outcomes by promoting diversity in their staffing and patient care. When considering diversity in health care, differences in ethnicity, gender, age, abilities, sexual orientation, religion, education, and socioeconomics can impact our experiences. These distinctions can sometimes lead to misunderstanding or division, but diversity can also bring us together and unite us (Supplemental Health, 2022). As a result, diversity in health care can result in the following benefits:

1) Higher Employee Morale-Diversity creates a stronger feeling of inclusion and community for health care workers, which makes the workplace feel safer and more enjoyable.

2) Better Care for Diverse Populations- Ensures that no matter who walks through the door, there is someone on staff who can identify with them, communicate with them, and better serve their individual needs.

3) Higher Employee Retention-The happier and safer healthcare workers feel in the workplace, the longer they will stay.

4) Better Recruitment-A commitment to diversity helps when recruiting new healthcare workers and administrative staff.

5) Stronger Individual Motivation- A diverse work environment sends the message that a worker’s cultural and ethnic background is an advantage that should be respected, if not celebrated.

6) Better Problem Solving-A wide range of perspectives can lead to more creative solutions when solving problems during an emergency or even during routine patient care.

7) Better Results- Health care diversity statistics prove that diverse health care teams get better patient results (Jordan, 2020).

At my current health care organization, we have a very diverse health care staff that is comprised of multiple races, ages, genders, ethnicities, and orientations. Additionally, we have a Diversity Committee that sends monthly messages that gives us the opportunity to help bring cultural and ethical changes within our organization. They also provide educational material and ways to represent underrepresented groups. Overall, cultural differences can influence many when it comes to health care. For example, a positive impact can promote trust, better health care, lead to higher rates of acceptance of diagnoses, and improve treatment adherence. However, a negative impact can often lead to misconceptions and barriers. For example, a common barrier we see with having diverse clients are language barriers.

References:

Jordan, A. (2020, June 30). The Importance of Diversity in Healthcare & How to Promote It. Provo College. Retrieved April 20, 2022, from https://www.provocollege.edu/blog/the-importance-of-diversity-in-healthcare-how-to-promote-it/

Supplemental Health Care. (2022). 5 Benefits to Fostering Diversity in Healthcare. Retrieved April 20, 2022, from https://www.shccares.com/blog/5-benefits-to-fostering-diversity-in-healthcare