An American Hospital Association (AHA)-sponsored webinar on Wednesday highlighted findings from a study on the diversity in hospitals and featured successful practices tips from two hospitals recently honored for promoting overall diversity and creating strategies for disparities reduction at their facilities.
The two hospitals featured in the webinar, Indiana University Health University Hospital in Indianapolis and Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, are two of 21 hospitals recognized in the AHA’s Institute for Diversity in Health Management study, Diversity and Disparities: A Benchmarking Study of U.S. Hospitals, released in June. The survey highlights the advancements being made in key areas that can promote equitable care, such as the collection of key demographic data, cultural competency training and the promotion of leadership diversity.
According to the study, 924 hospitals participated in the survey, which gave the institute a snapshot of the stages U.S. hospitals are in when it comes to diversity. The institute then identified the culturally pro-active hospitals in four categories, including: diversity in leadership and governance; diversity management and strengthening the workforce; cultural competency and engaging communities; and addressing disparities and delivering quality care.
Overall, the AHA’a Institute for Diversity in Health Management found that out of all the survey respondents, hospitals are actively collecting patient demographic data, including: race (94 percent); ethnicity (87 percent); primary language (90 percent); and disability status (70 percent). However, only 18 percent of hospitals reported using race, ethnicity and language preference data to benchmark gaps in care.
In the area of diversity, minorities represent a reported 29 percent of all patients; though they only comprised 14 percent of hospital board members and an average of 14 percent of executive leadership positions.
The survey also found that the majority of hospitals (65 percent) incorporate diversity management into the organization’s budgetary planning and implementation. In addition, almost half (48 percent) of hospitals reported having a documented action plan to recruit and retain a diverse workforce that is reflective of their organizations’ patient population, and 42 percent reported having implemented a program to identify diverse, talented employees within the organization for promotion.
Diversity and cultural competence have always been very important at Rush University Medical Center, said Bradley G. Hinrichs, Rush’s director of facilities planning. For instance, created executive leadership and diversity leadership councils to partner together, he said, “with a dedication to achieving a workforce of faculty and a student body that is reflective of the communities, patients, and regions we serve, and is all demonstrated by behavior in the organization.”
Rush University Medical Center was among seven hospitals awarded by the institute for best in class for cultural competency and engaging communities.
Hinrichs said that one way his organization promotes student diversity is by creating a full-time interpreter services task force.
“We have access to on-site interpretation of 40 different languages,” he said. “Culture is not simply a matter of race, ethnicity or social status. It’s a matter of delivering the highest quality of care to everyone.”
A community partnership program is one of the ways Indiana University Health University Hospital promotes diversity said Steve L. Jones, executive director for talent management and diversity at IU Health.
IU Health’s community partnership program works with 25 local organizations to provide computer access and application assistance to its jobs applicants that may not normally have access to computers.
“Since 2007, more than 300 candidates have been hired,” he said. “We also have a school-based program to expose middle and high school students to healthcare jobs. We provide them information on the kind of education and training they will need in order to pursue these careers. …(M)ore than 325 students participate each year.”
IU Health was recognized as a best in class hospital for diversity management and strengthening the workforce.