The Importance of Diversity in Healthcare

The Benefits of Diversity, the Risks of Ignoring It, and How to Promote It

The United States is one of the greatest multicultural melting pots in the world. Our massive range of perspectives, identities, and backgrounds—AKA our diversity—is one of our greatest strengths. It’s led to incredible accomplishments in science, technology, the arts, and every other aspect of society.

The medical field is no exception. Diversity in healthcare is much more than a buzzword or a corporate initiative—it’s an essential part of providing high-quality, personalized care to every patient. When healthcare providers, administrators, and policymakers reflect the diversity of the communities they serve, it leads to better outcomes for patients and better performance for healthcare organizations.

In this article, we’ll explore the importance of diversity in healthcare, the risks of not prioritizing diversity, and some strategies healthcare organizations can use to promote a more inclusive environment.

What Is Diversity in Healthcare?

On an average day, most hospitals and clinics care for people from a huge variety of cultures and backgrounds. Each of them has their own personal history and worldview that’s been shaped by their lived experience.

Diversity in healthcare means that healthcare organizations make a good-faith effort to recruit, hire, and retain a workforce that represents the diverse patients they treat. Of course, people from any background are capable of providing excellent patient care. Still, research shows that patients treated by providers who reflect their own experience and backgrounds have improved communication, more trust in their care plan, and better health outcomes.

While many people primarily think about ethnic background and gender when discussing diversity, it applies to many other aspects of people’s identity, including:

• Ethnicity
• Language and cultural background
• Sexual orientation and gender identity
• Age group
• Education level
• Socioeconomic status
• Physical abilities or disabilities
• Military service

Every patient deserves to be heard and understood by their healthcare team and to feel safe and welcome while receiving treatment. A diverse healthcare workforce is a major factor in delivering culturally competent care. (Learn more about the importance of cultural competence in nursing and healthcare.)

Why is Diversity in Healthcare Important?

Healthcare diversity is about much more than righteous ideals or warm, fuzzy feelings. It has a number of tangible benefits for patient outcomes and healthcare organizations. Some of the benefits of a diverse healthcare workforce include:

Increased patient trust and satisfaction

When patients see aspects of their own identity reflected among their healthcare team, they’re generally more receptive to treatment, and more likely to seek care. This is particularly valuable among groups who may be hesitant to trust healthcare providers, due to harmful and unethical practices those groups have previously endured.

Improved communication and health literacy

Minimizing cultural and language barriers can lead to faster diagnoses and more effective treatments, as patients are able to clearly express their symptoms and concerns. When providers can communicate clearly with patients, they’re also more likely to stick with their treatment plan and make meaningful lifestyle changes to improve their health.

More equitable health outcomes

From mortality rates to prevention of chronic diseases, diversity in healthcare contributes to more equitable health outcomes across all groups. Learn more about addressing health inequities in our guide to understanding and advancing equity in healthcare.

Improved workplace morale and employee retention

Employees in diverse workplaces are generally happier and more likely to stick around for the long term. Peer-reviewed research has shown a strong link between employee satisfaction and a diverse workforce. People who are satisfied at their jobs do better, more attentive work, which is especially important when treating patients!

Enhanced innovation and problem-solving

Multicultural teams have a significant advantage when it comes to workplace performance. A blend of perspectives and experience enables teams to examine problems from multiple angles and come up with better solutions. According to research from Korn Ferry, as of July 2024, diverse teams see 19% higher innovation revenue and are 75% more successful in implementing new ideas.

What Issues Can Arise from a Lack of Diversity in Healthcare?

Increasing health disparities

A lack of diversity in healthcare can worsen existing health disparities. Marginalized communities often experience higher rates of misdiagnosis, inadequate pain management, and less diagnostic testing. Conditions that disproportionately affect certain ethnic groups may also go undetected due to a provider’s limited experience with certain populations.

Communication breakdowns

Language barriers and cultural differences can cause difficulties in communication between patients and healthcare providers. For example, non-native English speakers may have difficulty fully explaining their symptoms, or be more likely to misunderstand medication instructions or follow-up responsibilities. Similarly, healthcare providers who don’t understand a patient’s cultural beliefs may make the patients less likely to follow instructions or seek care in the first place.

Lack of role models and mentors

Representation is key to inspiring future generations of nurses and healthcare workers. Mentors who understand the unique challenges faced by under-represented groups make a very real impact on up-and-coming healthcare professionals. On the other hand, when people don’t see anybody who looks like them in a certain career field, it can discourage them from ever pursuing their dream in the first place.

Implicit bias within healthcare

Although most people in healthcare do their best to treat everyone equally, bias is simply a natural part of being human. Regardless of background or identity, everyone has their own implicit beliefs about others that are shaped by past relationships and events.

Despite many individuals working with good intentions, a lack of diversity can lead to systemic biases throughout organizations. When big conversations only include certain perspectives, it limits the ability of leadership teams to recognize their own blind spots.

Talent gaps and workforce shortages

A lack of diversity within organizations can deter the best talent from applying for open positions—whether or not they belong to minority groups. As of October 2020, data from Glassdoor shows over 75% of job-seekers say that a diverse workforce is a key factor when choosing an employer. When the healthcare industry is already facing a shortage of qualified workers, healthcare organizations must make a conscious effort to encourage an inclusive workplace.

Healthcare Diversity Facts & Statistics

While diversity in healthcare has made significant progress in the last few decades, the numbers show us there’s still plenty of room to improve.

Diversity in nursing

• Overall, the field of nursing is becoming more diverse. As of March 2024, Black and Asian RNs now make up 11% and 9% of the RN workforce, compared to 8% and 5% in the previous National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses.
• As of March 2024, male RNs are now 12% of the workforce, another multi-point increase from the previous survey.
• People of color are still under-represented in advanced nursing professions like nurse practitioners. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of January 2025, only 34% of healthcare practitioners identify as people of color.

Diversity in healthcare leadership

• As of March 2024, between 2014 and 2022, the number of U.S. hospitals and healthcare organizations with at least one non-white board member increased from 53% to 68%.
• However, people of color make up only 22% of board members in top healthcare organizations, compared to their 41% share of the U.S. population.

How to Promote Diversity in Healthcare

Encouraging diversity in healthcare environments requires a multi-level effort from leadership, policymakers, and individuals. Here are some strategies that have been shown to work in recruiting and retaining a more diverse workforce:

Prioritize inclusive hiring strategies

Healthcare organizations must make a proactive effort to seek out diverse talent from historically underrepresented communities. By partnering with schools and programs who have a diverse student population, healthcare facilities can create a steady flow of qualified candidates and cultivate a more diverse workforce.

Implement cultural competency training

Our knowledge of cultural competence and implicit bias is continually evolving, and it’s crucial for healthcare organizations to keep their training up to date with the latest developments. Regular training equips healthcare providers with the resources they need to recognize their own personal biases and deliver higher-quality care to people from all backgrounds.

Encourage mentorship and career development

Providing all employees with growth and promotion opportunities ensures an organization’s decision-making encompasses multiple perspectives. Well-rounded leadership and management teams also make more effective mentors for up-and-coming healthcare professionals in an increasingly diverse healthcare industry.

Address language and communication barriers

Language barriers can lead to many issues in healthcare, from missed diagnoses to poor patient compliance with treatment plans. Facilities can take steps to eliminate these barriers by hiring interpreters, utilizing translation technology, and providing educational materials in multiple languages.

Create an inclusive workplace culture

Creating a diverse and welcoming workplace culture means more than hiring people from various backgrounds—it requires elevating traditionally under-represented voices. Culture committees and employee resource groups should be inclusive of people from all different backgrounds, and leadership teams must take their input to heart to create an environment where everyone feels valued and respected.

Prepare for your Healthcare Career at Provo College

If you want to make the world a more welcoming and inclusive place, a career in healthcare can provide countless opportunities to make a difference for patients, families, and communities. Although it’s a lifelong pursuit for healthcare workers to expand their cultural competence, the right training program can get you off to a great start.

At Provo College, we’re proud of our up-to-date curriculum that includes plenty of instruction on culturally competent care. Our instructors have decades of experience working with people from all backgrounds and beliefs and can help you learn the skills and awareness you need to treat every patient with dignity and respect.

Learn more about our healthcare and nursing programs, and start working toward a career where you’ll make a positive impact every day.