Managing Cultural Diversity in Hospital Systems in

MANAGING CULTURAL DIVERSITY IN HOSPITAL SYSTEMS IN THE ERA OF COVID-19

Uche Nwabueze, Professor, Maritime Administration, Texas A&M University

For hospital systems to compete effectively in the global market place, to serve patients and to sustain medical success, all hospitals must become as diverse as the market it is trying to reach and serve. In financial planning most financial consultants preach the necessity of a diverse financial portfolio, but the same ad vocation is not made when it comes to hiring people in the workplace. What you find is a corporate landscape of ignorance and indifference to the benefits of a diverse workforce.

In most organisations, diversity at the lower inhuman levels rather than at middle to senior managerial positions is the norm. This tendency seems to suggest that excellent organisations are defined by the homogeneity of management. However, I have found the reverse to be the case. Great organisations in my opinion should be environments where gender, ethnic, race, and spiritual differences are respected — a culture of social inclusion and integration. Top management should be heterogeneous in composition. This paper suggests that hospital organisations that are serious about achieving success in the provision of care and caring for patients and, as a result increase market share must embrace the opportunities cultural diversity offers. The paper offers a plan to make cultural diversity work better in hospital systems.

In an increasingly diverse world, hospital systems must be fundamentally aware of cultural differences and strategise ways to overcome challenges posed by the lack of people integration and respect of cultural differences, and appreciate that the “melting-pot” era is over. However, in the workplace there still exists racism, discriminatory hiring and promotion policies personal and managerial behaviour based on perception of what reality is and not on reality itself. Thus, the reality is organisational situations where career progression and development is defined absolutely by the colour of your skin. In spite of some progress by some hospital systems to embrace diversity, global diversity initiatives at best is a failure.

What is diversity?

The author is of the view that diversity represents a highly integrated work environment where the children of the world come together in fulfilment of a common, meaningful purpose. By children of the world, the author posits a representation of Women, Gays, Lesbians, Asians, Latinos, Blacks, Whites,