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Susan Lindheim,
M.D. |
| Co-chair,
Northern California Diversity Council |
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Diversity
in Our Workplace |
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Over the twenty years I have been a physician
with Kaiser Permanente, I have experienced remarkable gains
in Kaiser Permanente’s National Diversity Agenda,
which is:
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- to provide culturally responsive medical care and culturally
and linguistically appropriate services to improve the health
and satisfaction of our increasingly diverse membership
- to recruit and retain employees and physicians and enhance
the diversity, culturally competent care, skill and performance
of our workforce
- to facilitate membership growth through effective market
segmentation approaches that target specific populations,
which are the fastest growing segments of our society
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Nationally, regionally and
locally, Kaiser Permanente works in a variety of ways to support
our diversity mission by enhancing the quality of care and service
to our patients, employees and community. Kaiser Permanente encourages
broad based, inclusive diversity initiatives that engage employees
and physicians. These include active multicultural staff associations;
local diversity councils; extensive community outreach programs
to underserved seniors, adults and children; and partnerships with
our unions.
Kaiser Permanente is nationally recognized as a leader in providing
linguistically and culturally competent care. The language preferences
of our members are readily available and almost all of our facilities
in Northern California have easily accessible 24 hour per day medical
interpretation in over 140 languages by telephone. Many of the facilities
have in house interpreters as well. We are continuously developing
tools to help physicians and other health care providers learn about
the values, backgrounds and health beliefs of their diverse patients.
In 1995, the first Provider’s Handbook, focusing on delivering
culturally competent and responsive care to the Latino population,
was created. In 1999, two additional provider handbooks focusing
on the Asian and African American populations were first created.
Others have since been developed for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual
and Transgender population and for those with disAbilities. Others
are being planned.
Diversity is an integral part of Kaiser Permanente’s history,
dating back to the 1940’s. In 1977 the first annual Kaiser
Permanente National Diversity Conference was held. Each year, KP
physicians and staff flock to this conference, which requires larger
and larger venues. In 2004, over 700 employees and physicians attended.
One of the highlights of the conference is the presentation of the
R. J. Erickson Diversity Achievement Awards, named after a former
general counsel to the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program. Robert
Erickson was an unwavering advocate and a champion of diversity.
The award recognizes individuals, groups and medical centers making
significant contributions in cultural competence. Each year, Northern
California has been recognized for our outstanding contributions.
I am proud to work for an organization where diversity in our workforce
is seen as a key component in providing our culturally diverse patients
with a personal care experience. I invite you to consider a practice
with The Permanente Medical Group.
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