ealth equity is a hot topic in medicine. The more sensitive providers are to differences in patient populations, the better care they can provide. Hospitals and health care systems around the country are working HOT TOPIC Diversity and Inclusion in Pediatrics Rady Children’s first chief diversity and inclusion officer on why making a difference matters H NANCY MALDONADO education is customized based on each division’s unique challenges. “We develop these learning and team development series where we’re going in and really speaking to things that they’re seeing and experiencing,” she says. “We know that one training’s not going to move the needle, so it’s an ongoing conversation where we are
to be inclusive, eliminate bias and reverse health disparities. Leading the charge at Rady Children’s is Nancy Maldonado, the Hospital’s first chief diversity and inclusion officer. Since her hire in November, she’s been busy embedding diversity, equity and inclusion into the DNA of the organization, defining what that looks like regarding day-to-day operations and laying the foundation for future growth. “What we want here at Rady Children’s is to provide the best care to every patient that comes through these doors,” she says. “We know that having a diverse workforce is going to help improve every patient’s experience and ultimately improve health outcomes. What we can also do is educate and empower our teams so that they are more culturally competent.” Boosting inclusivity and representation can play a role in health outcomes and is critical to ensuring that the hospital is providing equitable care. This is important to instill in staff from day one, Maldonado says. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach. All new hires undergo unconscious bias training, but beyond that, training and
looking at case studies, role-playing and looking at real situations and how can we do it differently, and looking at the little things that are done every day and starting to look at them from an equity lens.” Though many people don’t look forward to mandatory diversity, equity and inclusion training sessions, so far, the reception has been overwhelmingly positive and employees appreciate the raw and honest dialog among colleagues. Maldonado and her team are also overhauling annual training protocols to promote better engagement. She has hit the ground running and is making great strides in fostering a sense of inclusion. “If we want to provide the best care, we have to take care of the people who take care of the people,” she says. “We have to start with our own workforce because if they’re not happy here, if they don’t love to come to work, that’s going to reflect in the care they provide.”
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