The Importance of DEI
When searching for a trusted medical care provider, most people look to the tenure and experience of the doctors, read reviews from patients and research the overall reputation of the clinic or facility where they work. What may not be top-of-mind for some, but is essential to quality care, is how an organization and its providers integrate diversity, equity and inclusion into their core values.
At WWMG, healthcare diversity, equity and inclusion is paramount to our process for helping patients. In this post, we’ll discuss our formal adoption of practices, what benefits there are to diversity and inclusion in healthcare, and why patient care improves in places where these practices are in place.
Diversity and Inclusion Adoption
When hiring staff for our WWMG clinics, we have a zero tolerance policy against discrimination. Our employment recruiters provide this statement to all who are seeking employment with WWMG:
“We are committed to employing a diverse workforce. We welcome job applications from qualified individuals without regard to race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy, marital status, physical or mental disability, or any other protected characteristic. Minorities, women, disabled persons, and veterans are encouraged to apply.”
We are proud to welcome professionals from various backgrounds and ethnicities to our WWMG family, which brings the best and brightest talent to our community.
Benefits to Diversity and Inclusion in Healthcare
The benefits to a more diverse, equitable and inclusive healthcare environment are vast. Here are just a few examples:
- Broader Perspectives
When multiple groups have representation in medical settings, the perspectives on care grow wider and therefore expand opportunities for improvement in all aspects of treatment. The more relatable a medical professional is to their patient, the greater chance they have of developing a long-term collaborative care relationship that builds trust and enables stronger communication between the two parties. - Support for Underrepresented Minorities
The mortality rate for African American infants is nearly 2.5 times greater than the mortality rate for Caucasian children. Hispanics are 1.3 times more likely to die from diabetes than their white counterparts. Furthermore, 31 percent of transgender citizens lack access to healthcare altogether. These staggering statistics will only be reduced with more representation in healthcare leadership and a better balance of overall diversity. - Increased Innovation
Diverse opinions, knowledge and experience help a community thrive by opening the doors to greater innovation, new techniques and efficiencies. Put simply, the more diverse the talent, the stronger the community. - Improved Staff Retention
When morale is high and staff feel valued and heard, they are more likely to stay on the team. Providing equitable pay and inclusion to healthcare professionals helps achieve this contentment in the workplace. Avoiding frequent turnover is crucial in a healthcare environment, because patients appreciate continuity and have an easier time trusting medical professionals that they can get to know over their years of care. At WWMG, we believe getting to know our patients over time is a key factor to our success.
Better Patient Care
All of the benefits listed above contribute to less stressful environments for patients. Some may not speak the common language in their community; others may feel they could be discriminated against or not properly heard when discussing symptoms for whatever condition brings them in for care. A more diverse facility offers solutions for these issues and leads to a more compassionate approach to treatment overall.
In addition, when communication between doctors, nurses, medical practitioners and patients becomes stronger, patient treatments have better results. The less anxiety patients have to share information about their needs, the easier their ailments are to treat.
Schedule an Appointment
If you’d like to schedule an appointment for medical care in this compassionate, inclusive environment, contact Western Washington Medical Group Family Practice. For more general inquiries about our care facilities and practices, use the form on this page.