Diversity In Today's Healthcare System

Words: 1028
Pages: 5
Open Document
Any patient seeking medical services in the United States envisions an ideal encounter, one in which the provider can understand, empathize, and provide trusted expertise. Understanding this ideal standard of care substantiates the problem that exists within the United States’ healthcare system in that the nation’s current and future demographic is not reflected in modern healthcare. For example, a 19-year-old Hispanic female presented to a local emergency room in suburban Delaware complaining of abdominal pain. The provider is forced to use a 3rd party translation service to understand the patient’s complaint and history. Feeling disconnected from the encounter, the patient is reluctant to share details regarding her pain, important details …show more content…
Census Bureau, blacks, Asians, Hispanics and other racial minorities will make up a majority of the population by the year 2050” (Borkowski, 2005). With this shift in racial demographics quickly approaching, it is important to investigate measures in which diversity can not only be represented by census data but also among healthcare systems nationwide. The current climate of homogeneity within today’s healthcare system poses a great threat to overall patient outcomes. A Johns Hopkins University study found that “patients in some regions may reject medical interventions based on longstanding traditions or their personal perspectives.patients prefer to have a more reliable source for communication, such as a doctor that can relate and understand the traditions and beliefs that structure patients’ views on medicine” (Ulatowski, 2017). Healthcare within the United States should be more diverse than the population in which it serves, and though it may seem a difficult feat, there are implementations that could positively contribute to the diversification of the greater health community. For example, ensuring that every level of healthcare, from primary care to specialty care, has access to on-site translators for diverse patients will improve patient-provider …show more content…
Age distributions within healthcare professions are vast and contribute to growing differences between patients and providers. For example, more than half of United States cardiothoracic surgeons are older than 55 years old. This seemingly insignificant statistic might seem minor; however, studies have shown that patients are more trusting and have better surgical outcomes when they can relate more to their surgical team (Weininger, 2020). The pathway of current medicine makes it very difficult for providers to achieve the astute position of surgeon, keeping those in the current position grandfathered in for the foreseeable future. Perhaps if there was more initiative for a direct pipeline for new doctors to become surgeons or at the least be a part of the surgical team earlier on then patients that seek cardiac care could relate more to their trusted providers. Some universities such as NYU, Washington University, and Massachusetts General have already adopted such fast-track programs specifically to assist with deficits within the surgical
Show More

Related Documents: Diversity In Today's Healthcare System

Rockdale Medical Center Case Study

there is a great amount of cultural diversity between patient’s culture, ethnic groups and backgrounds. There is also and increased amount of diversity among employees. Rockdale Medical center plays a role in understanding why cultural diversity is so prominent especially in the healthcare industries. Cultural diversity is defined as differences among people because of their racial or ethnic backgrounds, language and traditions (YourDictionary.com,…

Words 623 - Pages 3

Error: An Effective Leader Analysis

Error has unfortunately been viewed as an enemy for several years, especially in healthcare. What is not realized is that error is can be a significant driving force for change leading to the possibility of success. Error can be seen as a teacher to assisting in a crucial role of analysis, development, and implementation of best practices…

Words 1694 - Pages 7

MBAD 702 Essay

strategy is sound. I Introduction The Premier healthcare alliance is one of the few United States companies to unite the hospital community and develop a competitive advantage on a national scale, helping to shape national policies in Washington and promote patient care. The unique company is owned on a public basis and a customer basis, traded on the NASDAC yet majorly controlled by their customer base. Since their customers own the company, the healthcare alliance refers to their customer base as…

Words 1367 - Pages 6

The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down Summary

The Spirit Catches you and you Fall Down is the story of an epileptic Hmong girl, Lia Lee, and her families experience with her American doctors and the Western healthcare system. The story illustrates the cultural collision of the Hmong society and the American healthcare system, and how challenging understanding and treatment was for both the doctors and the Lee family. The clash of these vastly different cultures resulted in frustration, anger, miscommunication, and misunderstandings that ultimately…

Words 799 - Pages 4

Diploma Level 5 in Leadership for Health and Social Care Essay

Unit 503 – champion equality, diversity and inclusion 1.1 Explain the models of practice that underpin equality, diversity and inclusion in own area of responsibility There are two models that link with equality, diversity and inclusion, the first one is the social model of disability which views discrimination and prejudice as being embedded in today’s society, their attitude’s and their surrounding environment. The social model focuses on who the adult is as person not what their disability…

Words 2635 - Pages 11

Organizational Design Of The University Medical Center Of El Paso Texas

growing diversity of its strategic structure, systematic process and overall development. The significance of organizational design faces numerous challenges and development though out today’s economy. In the article, “Investing in human recourses” by Richard L. Clarke (2000). He illustrates the complexity of organizational design in the United States of America. The emphasis on leadership, management and development are all key components when dealing with the vision of any healthcare organization…

Words 930 - Pages 4

Cora's Journey

an impactful exploration of what it means to be free. The author, Colson Whitehead, brings these ideas to life in his story The Underground Railroad in which he connects slavery of the 1800s to historical events throughout America and relates to today's society. Whitehead uses historical allusions and magical realism to show how systemic racism continues today…

Words 1775 - Pages 8

business issues Essay examples

In today’s world, being a responsible company is the only smart way to operate in both the short term and long term. To be responsibility and accountable socially, ethically and environmentally is to be trusted. They need that trust to serve there diverse stakeholders and support a sustainable enterprise. They know trust is built over time with action, not words. This report reflects progress in the actions and knowledge areas where they still need to improve. The Pfizer board of directors corporate…

Words 1337 - Pages 6

Medical Paper

Cultural Views on Health Kianna Hicks ENGL 2309 April 05, 2011 University Of Houston Heather Duprius Cultures view health and disease in different ways. Based on the individual’s culture and the healthcare available to them determines how individuals treat an illness which varies greatly. From the harmony approach the Asian culture view health as balanced energy, The Chinese belief is that yin and yang brings balance to the body’s harmony that defines all living things…

Words 930 - Pages 4

Social Norms And Prejudice In The United States

social influence in the United States causes unconscious bias towards certain groups of people, creating a debate on what's acceptable or unacceptable to the public eye. From one perspective, social norms promote equality, tolerance, and respect for diversity. However, from another perspective, social norms can also be seen as a negative or unethical barrier in growing as a society. Protest leaders, government officials, and many larger, more powerful people have continued to create…

Words 938 - Pages 4