Abstract
I was asked to provide an editorial that reflects my perspective on the value of a diverse workforce within diagnostic medical sonography and vascular technology. I am a US citizen who immigrated to the United States from Ethiopia, where I worked in education and women’s health development training. This type of work afforded me a chance to interface with a variety of diverse workers. Ethiopia is a multiethnic, multicultural, and multilingual nation, which meant that it was important to show respect for different traditions and customs and ensure that the workplace provided equal access to services. I came to the US with my wife to not only establish her career as a physical therapist but also to become part of the health care community myself. The transitional path I took from being a language interpreter for patients in hospitals to a graduate of The Ohio State University with a BS degree in sonography/vascular technology has been quite a journey. It has provided me with a unique perspective to view the impact of diversity on the workforce in my new profession. As the current patient base diversifies, it is imperative now more than ever that we modify our practices to support patients and caregivers of different backgrounds, religions, and beliefs.
Changing Demographics of Patients Versus Providers
Many studies have reported that there are considerable differences in the quality of health care and health status among ethnic and racial minority groups in the United States.1–3
For example, in comparison to African Americans, Caucasians are 78% more likely to receive revascularization after angiography. African Americans wait nearly twice as long for kidney transplants and are 67% more likely to die from breast cancer once diagnosed. 4 African American and Hispanic youth are highly vulnerable to diabetes compared to their Caucasian counterparts. Such disparities in the health care sector translate into actual disparate outcomes for the health of diverse patients.
This evidence points to the need for improved access to health care services for underserved patients. To address these inequities, we must also examine how prepared our workforce is to deal with these issues. Some interesting observations about the health care workforce are that in comparison to Caucasian physicians, Native American, Hispanic, and African American practitioners are more likely to provide services to underserved populations and provide treatment to significant numbers of minority people regardless of their income level. In addition, Hispanic and African American physicians, irrespective of gender distinction, are more likely to provide health care services to Medicaid and poor people. 4 To address all the health care concerns of a diverse population, we need more minority health care providers, but we also need our existing health care workers to become skilled in providing culturally sensitive health care to minority populations.
Need for Cultural Competency Training
Diversity in the educational classroom helps facilitate a more reflective workforce and can improve outcomes in the health care sector. 4 Diversity infused into health care education provides quality-based education and training to professionals, facilitating interaction with people from different ethnic and racial backgrounds. This in turn facilitates the development of teams of diverse students working together to solve problem-based assignments and improves the knowledge of providers about their patients’ cultural, ethnic, and racial differences and similarities. The downstream effect is hopefully an added awareness and improvement in the ability of physicians and sonographers to treat patients with more diverse knowledge and sensitivity. The development of a culturally competent health care system is not a one-time training event; it requires multilevel strategies and involves both the provider and the diverse consumers of health care. 5
Need for Diverse Sonographers/Vascular Technologists
In the health care sector, increasing the overall rate of minority physicians and sonographers will bring significant improvements in providing access to quality-based health care services for minority populations. In many cases, diverse health care professionals have a passion to work in areas that are underserved, and they would prefer to help meet the needs of these patients. 6
As sonography increasingly becomes the imaging modality of choice in tandem with advancements in sonographic equipment and research, there is an increased demand based on safety and cost-effectiveness. Expanding employment needs creates opportunities to hire qualified individuals from minority populations whose diverse perspectives may also add new ideas or methodologies to sonographic patient care. Having diversified sonographers on staff also helps to promote cultural competence among health care colleagues, and the result is a more positive experience for patients.
In conclusion, a sonography workforce that truly represents the racial and ethnic makeup of the US population can play an important role in providing high-quality care, better patient choice, improved satisfaction, and ultimately, improved health outcomes for minority patients.
