Diverse Patients Require Diverse Caregivers

In 2019, Cleveland Clinic served nearly 10 million patients from all 50 states and 185 countries. We employed 66,000 caregivers worldwide. None of that would be possible without our commitment to diversity and inclusion.

At Cleveland Clinic, our culture has long been one of embracing and integrating the practices of diversity and inclusion – for our patients, for our communities, and for our caregivers. We provide a welcoming, respectful and inclusive environment for everyone.

We firmly believe that our diversity is our strength. The only way to properly care for a diverse patient population is with a diverse workforce of caregivers who understand and respect their unique qualities. That’s true not just for Cleveland Clinic or healthcare providers, but for everyone in all industries.

For the 11th consecutive year, Cleveland Clinic has been honored by DiversityInc as one of the top health systems for diversity.

Shaping culture to value diversity is an intentional, ever-evolving process. It requires continued focus on developing our cultural competency, being aware of our unconscious biases, advancing health equity, and promoting economic empowerment. It requires commitment, accountability and targeted initiatives.

Last year, we added Inclusion as one of our six guiding values, alongside Quality & Safety, Empathy, Integrity, Teamwork and Innovation.

A few of our many initiatives include:

• By 2024 our leadership will reflect the diversity of those they lead. 
• Diversity metrics are part of annual performance goals for hospital leadership.
• Patient demographics – including race/ethnicity, language, and other factors -- are evaluated to determine how specific populations and communities compare in terms of health outcomes.

As our Inclusion value states, “We intentionally create an environment of compassionate belonging where all are valued and respected.”

We achieve this by integrating best practices of diversity, inclusion, equity and cultural competence into all that we do – from improving policies and procedures to expanding access to quality healthcare services to hiring caregivers to reflect the diversity of those we serve.

This is simply a matter of doing what is right for all. Our patients, our caregivers, and our communities deserve nothing less.