Unfortunately, availability and overall quality of health care isn’t equal among all races and ethnicities. It turns out that our nation is severely lacking in some of these areas. A lack of diversity in health care professions is hindering our ability to treat individuals of all backgrounds. By increasing the diversity of our health care professionals, we can improve access to health care for all minority groups and improve the educational processes for students. Getting more diverse students will improve the workforce of tomorrow.
As the Sullivan Commission notes, a lack of minorities in the health care industry is hurting the nation. We’re putting our overall health, especially the health of minorities, at risk in a long-term manner. Lackluster numbers of minority students in medical, nursing, and dental programs, among others, isn’t helping such matters. In fact, most medical schools lack a diverse faculty with enough minorities in teaching positions. A situation like this won’t be rectified anytime soon because the problem is deeply rooted across the industry.
Textbooks, lectures, and other resources won’t assist health care professionals in becoming culturally competent. An educational environment that includes working closely with minority students and patients is necessary instead. In simple terms, health care professionals and future professionals need to interact with a diverse body of professionals and patients alike. A well-rounded health care professional needs to deal with people from every racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic background to succeed.
Undoubtedly, health care professionals are held to a high esteem in our society these days. These individuals undertake a rigorous education and a challenging career with countless opportunities and rewards. Improving our lackluster health care situation requires that schools target minority groups and encourage them to enter the health care industry. In the end, such actions could lead to a more diverse health care industry as well as better care and access for minorities in general.
All of this speaks to the core values of America: equality and fairness for everyone, regardless of race of ethnicity.
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