Health services administration education: meeting the challenge of a culturally diverse work force

Curriculum revision is a continuous and an ongoing process. Health services administration programs must revise course offerings to reflect current demands and changing trends within our society. Given the expected changes in the work force by the year 2000, health services administration programs must consider incorporating cultural diversity issues as they relate to the management of a diverse work force within the health care industry. Labor force and population trends are projected to include a slowly growing work force population, a decline in the pool of young workers, entrance of more females, increased participation of minorities into the labor force, an increased non-white percentage of new entrants and the largest work force increase attributed to increasing numbers of immigrants. In preparation for the diversity within the work force by the 21st century, health administration programs may find the approaches outlined as conducive for teaching students to become sensitive and cognizant of culturally diverse employees. Incorporation of cultural diversity issues may occur in a variety of ways, however, a close examination of the best way to integrate this content lies within each educational program.