CulturaLink, LLC announced today that its client, New Brunswick-based Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJ) received the prestigious Equity of Care Award from the American Hospital Association (AHA). The AHA award recognizes hospitals for their efforts to reduce health care disparities and promote diversity within the organization’s leadership and staff.
This award for RWJ follows an extensive engagement with CulturaLink to increase diversity in leadership roles within the organization.
“When we first started our journey, we needed to understand our employees’ perceptions surrounding diversity, inclusion, equity,” said RWJ Chief Diversity Officer Ryan Parker. “The feedback gained through focus groups conducted by CulturaLink opened our eyes to potential blind spots with regards to the engagement of all employees.”
As the nation makes a shift toward a minority-majority balance, the need to identify and eliminate disparities in care is becoming critical. National Public Radio reported earlier this year that by 2020, more than half the nation’s children will be part of a minority race or ethnic group.
“Addressing disparities of care in no longer just the ethically correct path for hospitals and health care systems to take,” said CulturaLink President Yolanda Robles. “Equity is vital to being able to effectively respond to patient needs, staff your organization appropriately, and improve overall community healthy.”
About CulturaLink
CulturaLink partners with healthcare organizations to improve patient care and create an engaged, diverse workforce through services focused on diversity, inclusion and cultural competence. They partner with hundreds of healthcare providers to deliver best-in-class consulting and training services along with comprehensive translation and interpretation in more than 200 languages. CulturaLink’s proven approach with healthcare organizations has led to optimized healthcare infrastructure and positive changes in both the employee and patient experience.