Cultural Disparities Pose Barriers In Healthcare

ByJade Bluestone

Representation in healthcarerefersto theinclusion of healthcareprofessionalsof varied race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, religion, and sexual orientation. It is important becauseit givespatientstheopportunity to share thesameor similar backgroundsastheir healthcare providers. By ensuring that peopleof different groupsare represented, healthcareemployerscan better navigate barriersthat separatethem from their patients.

Despitetherecognition of thevalueof adiverse workforce, thereremain obstacles. Thechallengesof underrepresented groupsmay createadditional challenges, such asfewer job offers, increased risk of discrimination, disadvantaged backgroundsthat affect futureopportunities or even employersoften not apart of thesegroupswho may not understand theimportanceof diversity.

According to an articleby theUniversity of St Augustine for Health Sciences, ?It?simportant for employersto understand current healthcaredemographicsand the barriersand challengesfaced by women, peopleof color, and LGBTQ peoplein thehealthcareworkforce.?While current demographicsmay haveimproved slightly over the centuries, therearestill difficultiesfor underrepresented groups.

A report by TheAssociation of American Medical Colleges in 2019 revealed that morethan half of activephysicians areWhite, 17%areAsian, 5%areHispanic, and 5%are Black or African American. It'sclear that certain groups dominatecertain areasof health. It wasn't until 2007 that asurgein femalephysiciansrosefrom only 28%to 36% and out of every 100 promoted men, only 85 women are promoted, which can becomean even larger differencefor peopleof color. Therepresentation of different races, cultures, genders, sexual orientations, and religionsis essential to not only improvecommunication between patientsand healthcareprovidersbut within workersand facilitiesaswell.

Fortunately, therearewaysto lessen thesecultural disparities. AAMCsharesafew thingsbeing doneto help promotediversity including ?adjusting servicesoffered to better meet theneedsof thepatient population,??hiring culturally diversestaff,?and ?removing thebiasesin policiesand procedureswhileinstituting new policies that promoteequality.?By being moreinclusive, healthcarepoliciesshow it can increaseprovider comfort levels, enhanceunderstanding, improvecommunication, increasepatient trust and reducehealth disparitiesto ultimately providean inclusiveexperiencefor patientsof all demographics.

Each and every healthcareprovider isavaluable member of theforce, no matter their race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation. In addition, it'simportant that underrepresented groupsarealso given equal opportunitiesto berightfully represented in all areasof wellnessand health.