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Discussion Board Forum 1: Diversity of the Healthcare Workforce
Jessica Fisher
Liberty University BUSI 646
June 25, 2022
Professor Dr. Colleen McLaughlin
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Diversity of the Healthcare Workforce
Diversity
Diversity is such a broad topic and can mean completely different things to different
people all over the world in reference to the way people, or groups of people, are similar or
different from one another. Understanding diversity means understanding that every individual is
different, no two people are alike, and this makes everyone unique. It also includes knowing how
to relate to certain qualities of different cultures and personalities, while practicing a mutual
respect for one another. In relations to healthcare workforce, one of the main types of diversity
that is used every day is demographic diversity.
Demographic Diversity. “Demographic diversity is tied to our identities of origin”
(Anca et. al, 2018, para. 2). In simpler terms, demographic diversity explains our race, ethnicity,
gender, sexual orientation, etc., and are the characteristics that are given to us at birth. A person’s
demographic diversity helps shape their identity.
Technology in the Workforce
Technology has become a major part of business and healthcare today. Rather than
writing on paper and creating a chart, everything is done online through electronic medical
records (EMRs). The healthcare industry, as well as technology, are expanding and advancing
exponentially with each year that passes. With the help of technology, medical professionals are
able to create a digital version of their patient’s medical information, both past and present. This
gives the healthcare providers, nurses, techs, radiologists, and anyone on the care team, the
opportunity and ease of reading up on the patients from anywhere in the hospital or office
setting.
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Medication and Imaging Errors. Not only do these EMR systems create a faster
response time for clinicians and care teams, but it also eliminates the confusion that has been
evident with physicians in the past when writing medication or imaging orders for patients.
“According to an article in the April 1999 issue of Health, the US Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) estimates that medication errors lead to 1.3 million patient injuries each year” (Mayo &
Duncan, 1999, p. 1119. This article goes on to describe an instance where a doctor wrote a
prescription for a patient to treat a heart condition, but the handwriting was illegible and the
pharmacist read it as a different type of medication that was used to treat blood pressure, causing
this patient ended up experiencing a heart attack just a few days later (Mayo, et. al, 1999, p.
1119). Situations such as this have been able to be avoided with the use of technology and EMRs
because doctors can now electronically prescribe medications to their patients. While each EMR
program is different, they all have the ability to send the appropriate information to pharmacy
companies explaining exactly what drug, quantity, and how many refills are allowed for patients.
Technology and EMR systems make it easier for healthcare teams to order what is needed for
patients, without the confusion of not being able to read handwriting and knowing exactly what
is needed for each patient.
Diversity in the Workforce
Physicians and nursing staff are not the only ones to use EMRs and technology systems
in the healthcare workforce. Human resources can also use different technology services for
hiring new employees, training new employees, or even updating current training programs on
certain policies and procedures that are already in place. Diversity comes into play during the
hiring process because employees need to be hired for jobs they either have an educational
background in, or have previous job experience that is similar to the job opening. For example,
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MD Anderson is the number cancer hospital and medical facility in the world and is known for
exactly that. However, it took a lot of work and training to become such a phenomenon. When
applying for jobs or volunteer services through the online portal system, applications are put in
place for anyone to fill out and are then separated by personality traits and background
information. Another use of technology systems is through different training exercises for
specific job descriptions that can be used for new hires, or even transfer hires. The textbook
states “new training, delivery and instruction methods, include distance learning, streaming
media, simulators, virtual reality, expert systems, electronic support systems, and learning
management systems” (Pynes & Lombardi, 2011, p. 299). Working environments are always
diverse because there are so many different types of people involved that come from different
ethnic backgrounds as well as educational backgrounds. Hospital and medical office settings are
a great example of a diverse working environment because they are full of different medical
training statuses. Not only are there doctors and surgeons, but there are nurses, nurse
practitioners, surgical technologists, radiologists, radiology technologists, anesthesiologists, and
so many more. They all have to learn to work together, even if that means working through some
differences that are possible to come up, because the number one focus is patient care.
Biblical Integration
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave
you” Ephesians 4:32. It is important to accept anyone and everyone for who they are. It is not up
to any one person to judge another based on cultural differences.
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References
Anca, C. D., & Aragon, S. (2018). The 3 types of diversity that shape our identities. Harvard
Business Review.
Mayo, A., & Duncan, D. (1999). Physicians’ handwriting can lead to medication mistakes.
AORN Journal, 69(6), 1119.
Pynes, J. E., & Lombardi, D. N. (2011). Human resources management for health care
organizations: A strategic approach. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
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