"Doing" diversity. Holy Cross Health System facilities honor differences in different ways

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Organizational Diversity
• Sociology in Medicine

Background:

• Healthcare organizations face evolving workforce and community demographics.
• Adapting to diversity is crucial for effective healthcare delivery and community engagement.
• Holy Cross Health System (HCHS) recognized the need for a proactive diversity strategy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement a comprehensive diversity initiative across HCHS facilities.
• To leverage demographic shifts for improved workforce and community relations.
• To integrate diversity principles into strategic healthcare planning.

Main Methods:

• A multi-component program was launched from HCHS corporate headquarters.
• Member facilities implemented tailored diversity activities.
• Key components included employee consciousness-raising, community education, and strategic planning.

Main Results:

• Initiatives included transcultural rounds for nursing students and cultural fashion shows.
• Community outreach aimed to increase diversity awareness among physicians, patients, and vendors.
• Leaders engaged in strategic thinking to incorporate diverse community contributions.

Conclusions:

• HCHS's diversity initiative aims to align with and benefit from demographic changes.
• The program fosters cultural understanding and strategic integration of diverse populations.
• Successful implementation requires facility-level adaptation and leadership commitment to diversity.