Diversity Signaling in Healthcare: Workforce and Health Equity Implications.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Organizational Behavior
• Corporate Communications

Background:

• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies are increasingly critical in healthcare.
• Signaling theory provides a framework for understanding how organizations communicate values.
• Websites are key channels for healthcare organizations to signal their commitments to stakeholders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine how healthcare organizations signal their commitment to DEI on their websites.
• To apply signaling theory to assess DEI communication strategies in the healthcare sector.
• To evaluate the extent of DEI signaling in relation to leadership diversity and explicit language.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of websites from 78 US hospitals and healthcare organizations.
• Evaluation of signals including C-suite diversity, explicit diversity language, and diversity statements.
• Quantification of DEI signaling using a composite measure scale.

Main Results:

• High prevalence of observable C-suite diversity (89.74%).
• Low prevalence of explicit diversity language in core statements (10.26%).
• Most organizations scored low on the diversity signaling composite measure (48.72%).

Conclusions:

• Lack of explicit DEI language may unintentionally signal a weaker commitment.
• Absence of diversity signals can deter potential employees and patients seeking inclusive environments.
• Organizations actively communicating DEI are better positioned to attract talent and foster inclusive cultures.