Article: National Academies proposes reimagining health care to fix ‘fundamental flaws’ that underlie inequity

This STAT article, authored by Usha Lee McFarling, discusses our nation’s struggle toward health equity from a DEI perspective. A long history of racial discrimination has led our health system to the unfortunate situation it lies in today. If we hope to change this system for the better, initiative must come from healthcare executives and the government. McFarling discusses solutions proposed from a variety of sources, which include devoting more research efforts into underprivileged communities and dedicating funds to increase access to good health care. Other solutions have less direct impact, but are long-term solutions. For example, if the government granted more funding toward education, housing quality, and reducing discrimination, these economic benefits would circle back to the healthcare system. 

Even with so much research done and so many models created, the government has been slow in acting on healthcare in America. The article does acknowledge the Biden Administration’s steps toward health equity in America, but in my own experience volunteering at healthcare organizations, I can agree that it’s simply not enough. I’ve seen and heard many things. I live in a diverse area where healthcare providers have exposure to people of different cultures and backgrounds. I’ve heard nurses and doctors struggle to communicate with their patients due to a language barrier, and therefore cannot communicate their needs without a translator. These translators work remotely, and have lives of their own. Consequently, the nurses are often forced to wait in order to converse with their patients. 

Putting an emphasis on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is critical within hospitals. Hospital executives must prioritize bringing in employees who can speak other languages, or can simply represent a culture familiar to many patients. When I work at the Information Desk and show visitors around the hospital, I am the only representative who can speak Spanish. It’s incredibly relieving for Spanish-speaking visitors when they discover that they can communicate with someone and not a translator on an IPad screen. I’m proud that I can serve as a comforting and helpful presence for the visitors, and would like to see this become more widespread within the hospital. 

I also believe that the government can produce initiatives to provide more equitable access to health care services in underprivileged areas. By creating incentives for nurses and doctors to find work in these neighborhoods, minorities and lower-class families can find relief in knowing they’re in qualified and safe hands when finding health care. Structural racism in these communities must be combated from multiple angles. Both short-term and long-term initiatives must go hand-in-hand with strong leadership within local communities and organizations to ensure the government and hospital executives are working harmoniously to improve our health system. 

I found this article to be an interesting and valuable read. I can apply this knowledge to my current experiences as a volunteer, but also keep them in mind as I explore my passion for healthcare administration. In our nation’s pursuit of bettering the healthcare system, considering diversity, equity, and inclusion is essential in taking key steps forward.