The face of South Carolina is changing, and hospitals are on the front line of that change.

Effective Communications
We must be ready to care for people who speak different languages and hold different cultural values.

Workforce
We must ensure that people of all backgrounds and experiences have leadership opportunities in hospitals.

Data Collection, Quality and Health Disparities
We must do a better job collecting race and ethnicity data in order to improve patient outcomes.

Demographics are changing nationally to such an extent that in August 2008, The Joint Commission began developing accreditation standards (Joint Commission Standards) for hospitals that will promote, facilitate, and advance the provision of culturally competent patient-centered care. As a result, SCHA is convening work groups to explore accessibility, language and cultural barriers, workforce preparedness, and diversity in education and recruitment of professionals.  And in 2010, the South Carolina Hospital Association created a new personal membership group, the SC Society of Healthcare Diversity Professionals (SHDP), to promote the roles and functions of diversity professionals who work for South Carolina health care providers. 

Research Studies, Tools, & Resources

• Identifying & Evaluating Equity Provisions in State Health Care Reform (The Commonwealth Fund) (pdf)
• Key Facts: Race, Ethnicity & Medical Care (Kaiser) (pdf)
• Medicaid Managed Care Toolkit: Reducing Racial and Ethnic Disparities (pdf)
• Diversity Assessment Tool (pdf)
• One Size Does Not Fit All (pdf)
• AHA Special Advisory Group on Improving Hospital Care for Minorities (pdf)
• White Coats Many Colors (pdf)
• Hospitals, Language, and Culture--A Snapshot of the Nation (pdf)
• Joint Commission Standards (link)
• Institute for Diversity (link)
• Disparities Solution Center (link)
• Kaiser Webcasts (link)