Discussion Thread One: Intro to Strategic HR in Healthcare
The diversity of the health care workforce is a critical aspect of health care human
resource management. The health care industry is becoming increasingly diverse, with patients
from different cultures, races, and ethnicities seeking care (Young & Guo, 2020). The need for a
diverse health care workforce has become even more pressing due to the COVID-19 pandemic,
which has highlighted disparities in health care outcomes among different populations
(Muhammed et al., 2021). This discussion post will discuss the importance of diversity in the
health care workforce and its impact on health care human resource management.
An article titled “Diversity in the health care workforce: a review of the literature” by
Williams et al. (2020), highlights the importance of diversity in the health care workforce. The
authors argue that a diverse health care workforce can improve health care outcomes for all
patients, particularly those from marginalized communities. The article cites several studies that
have found that patients are more likely to adhere to medical treatments and have better health
outcomes when they are treated by health care providers who share their cultural backgrounds.
The article also notes that a diverse health care workforce can improve communication between
patients and providers, leading to better patient satisfaction and trust in the health care system. A
similar article by Sealy-Jefferson and Vargas (2021) discusses the impact of diversity in health
care leadership. In this article, Sealy-Jefferson and Vargas argue that a lack of diversity in health
care leadership can lead to a lack of understanding of different populations' unique health care
needs. The article cites several studies that have found that health care organizations with diverse
leadership teams are more likely to provide high-quality care to all patients. The authors also
note that diverse leadership teams can lead to more innovative solutions to health care
challenges, as diverse perspectives can lead to more creative problem-solving.
According to McConnell (2021), Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action
are two of the initiatives formulated to confront the trend of diversity in the health care
workforce (p. 64). Although no longer actively mandated, Affirmative Action is still active today
in various forms and aims to address discrimination against certain groups, typically minorities
and women, by taking proactive measures to increase their representation in education,
employment, and other areas. The goal of affirmative action is to promote diversity, equity, and
inclusion by ensuring that traditionally marginalized groups have access to the same
