Diversity in Health Leadership

In less than 30 years, minorities will be the majority population. With full implementation of the Affordable Care Act, health care access has increased for minorities in the United States. With these changes, there is still a lack of health administration leaders who reflect the diversity of the patients and communities served. It has been demonstrated that diversity in the workplace improves employee and patient satisfaction, but is absent when it comes to key leadership that dictates crucial decisions for health care organizations. As a result, a study was conducted to assess the perceived barriers to obtaining leadership positions in health administration among minorities currently employed in health organizations to determine the best strategies to expand the employment of minority leaders in health systems in the United States. The nationwide descriptive cross-sectional survey of mid-level health professionals and higher revealed that participants were split with organizational leadership being reflective of their diverse patients. While almost all professionals had the skills needed to be a leader, only a fraction of the environments they were employed in had promotional opportunities. Research showed limitations to advance without established pathways and mentoring, that non-minorities did not feel any barriers were present for minorities, and general lack of understanding of culture among the workforce. Health serving organizations need to support the growth and development of minorities currently employed in order to provide leadership that will support the minority-majority future population.