Raising Diversity Consciousness in Healthcare

Diversity is a concept that has been discussed frequently for the past 30 years, especially in the context of the workplace. Organizations offer diversity training to their employees and managers, hoping to increase sensitivity to differences and decrease misunderstandings which can lead to conflict. Given the diverse composition of today’s American workforce, there is more need than ever for raising diversity consciousness.

Raising diversity consciousness is especially essential in healthcare, a profession devoted to the care and well being of patients. “Patients differ in many ways. Some of these differences are due to patient illness, personality, socioeconomic class, or education, but the most profound differences may be cultural. Many healthcare professionals think that if they just treat each patient with respect, they will avert most cultural problems. But that is not always the case.” (Galanti, 2000)

There are many ways practitioners can educate themselves about a patient’s culture. Websites, books, and certain journals and magazines are some of the typical resources available, but there are other sources or methods for raising diversity consciousness. Local organizations, religious or social, are excellent sources of information, and usually welcome the openness of someone wanting to learn and understand their culture. Here in Syracuse, the Syracuse InterReligious Council has for years been involved with refugee resettlement and cross cultural education. Syracuse University’s International Student Office and other areas can provide a practitioner with valuable cultural information, or even translation/interpretation services. Last, but not least, asking the patient or their family about their culture and how they want to be treated, can be an important starting point that leads to a more positive experience for the patient.

By educating themselves, practitioners can avoid the danger of stereotyping people. “All of us are unique. To say, for example, “Russians do this” and “Vietnamese believe that” is both foolish and possibly dangerous.” (Galanti, 2000) Within cultures there are various layers of differences and personal experiences that refute common stereotypes and dispel many cultural myths. Diversity in today’s healthcare environment adds another challenge to the role of the practitioner, but it can also make for a more positive and rewarding experience, for both patient and practitioner. Knowledge of cultural customs and awareness of individual differences can help avoid misunderstanding and enable practitioners to provide better care.

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