Greetings,
What does April evoke for you? Perhaps “April flowers, bring May flowers,” spring break, or spring cleaning? It is also called “Celebrate Diversity” and “Minority Health Month” observances, which are very much needed but increasingly difficult for many in our current climate. Now, when I think of “spring cleaning,” I think of all organizations scrubbing any mention of DEI from their materials, websites, and programs.
So, what is DEI, and why is it important in healthcare? According to the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC), DIVERSITY is a way to describe all aspects of humanity – including our individual differences, characteristics, and experiences. Diversity is the concept of including all people and valuing their differences, EQUITY recognizes that resources are unevenly distributed and considers the specific needs or circumstances of a person or group to provide the resources needed to help them be successful, and INCLUSION provides the opportunity and environment where everyone has a meaningful experience and can contribute. DEI is important in healthcare because “outcomes improve when patients see doctors who look like them,” asserts Harvard Public Health author LaShyra Nolen. She cites a longitudinal study that found that when more African American primary care physicians were practicing at the county level, African American life expectancy improved. Given that under 6% of physicians in the U.S. are Black, this underscores the need for DEI in healthcare. Similar workforce disparities exist for Latines and Native Americans as well. The lack of clinicians with cultural and lived experiences similar to the patients they treat makes DEI training for physicians even more crucial. American Journal of Managed Care (AJMC) author Cameron Santoro remarks, “DEI-trained health care professionals have demonstrated positive impacts on patient outcomes, including improved treatment adherence, increased trust and engagement, and reduced costs.”
In closing, as we Celebrate Diversity and Minority Health Month, let’s remember these sobering statistics from the American Heart Association and Walden University:
African Americans have a 33 percent higher death rate from cardiovascular disease than any other group.
African Americans are twice as likely to have a stroke than Caucasians.
Native Americans are much more likely to die early from heart disease. 36 percent will die of heart disease before the age of 65, as opposed to 17 percent of the overall U.S. population.
Mexican-Americans, African-Americans, Native Americans, and Alaskan Natives have a much higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes than Caucasians.
African-American and Mexican-American women have a much higher rate of obesity than Caucasian women.
LGBTQ+ individuals often encounter barriers to healthcare. As a result, they can experience worse health outcomes.
These statistics further illustrate the need for DEI in healthcare. Culturally tailored approaches centered on community are paramount to disease prevention and early intervention.
Here’s to your health/Saludos.
Dr. Venoncia Bate'-Ambrus