As a minority in the medical field, there are many challenges. The lack of diversity among physicians is a problem that spans across the country and has been around for decades.
The number of minority physicians has been steadily increasing, but the percentage of minority doctors in practice is still lower than their counterparts.
The healthcare industry must work to change this by improving the relationship between the industry and diverse communities, encouraging them to pursue careers in medicine, and consciously recruiting more physicians from these groups.
Here are a few reasons why diversity in the healthcare field is important:
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Providing Culturally-Competent Care
A doctor’s own cultural background influenced their practice patterns, patient care, and doctor-patient relationships.
If a doctor doesn’t understand the language or culture of those they are treating, it can lead to misdiagnosis and mistreatment. In fact, studies have shown that patients with English as a second language who receive care from doctors who speak their native tongue have lower rates of emergency room visits and hospitalizations.
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Increasing Patient Satisfaction
Patients who have a doctor who shares their race or ethnicity report being more satisfied with the care they receive. In fact, patients surveyed in one study were more likely to say they’d recommend doctors of their own backgrounds and said they believed their physician understood them better.
When people are comfortable with the person treating them, they are more likely to follow through on treatment plans and will build rapport with their doctor.
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Reducing Health Disparities
When communities feel slighted by the lack of representation in medical care, it can lead them to mistrust the healthcare system as a whole.
Disparities among different races and ethnicities also increase the cost of health care.
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Increasing the Number of Diverse Physicians
Studies show that when medical students are exposed to more diverse role models, they feel more confident in pursuing a healthcare career.
When minorities see people like themselves thriving in their chosen profession, it can encourage them to follow suit and even motivate them to be the best at what they do.