With the growing globalization of today’s economy, achieving diversity in the workplace is a smart move to make. The meaning of diversity has become more complex. A diversified workforce includes people with a variety of differences that include education and a range of work experiences and perspectives that can benefit the team.

I am amazed with the degree of diversity of life on our small planet. My recent trip to Costa Rica highlighted for me the range of living things on earth…plant, animal, and people. While this may sound a bit unusual, octopuses show us an extreme example of diverse thought, emotions, and skills. Watch “My Octopus Teacher” to see for yourself how a creature, so different from ourselves in many ways, shares many human characteristics, especially intellect. You may never eat octopus again.

Whenever a group of like-minded people are put together, they will generate similar ideas. This is because their thinking patterns are very much alike. However, if you change things up by mixing diverse individuals together, you’ll have a workforce that’s more prone to creativity and innovation — two important ingredients for success. A heterogeneous workforce will be able to exchange unique perspectives and spark fresh ideas.

In the medical community, diversity often refers to the inclusion of healthcare professionals, trainees, educators, researchers, and patients of varied race, ethnicity, gender, disability, social class, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, primary spoken language, and geographic region.

Studies show that students who have trained at diverse schools are more comfortable treating patients from ethnic backgrounds other than their own. These experiences boost creativity and innovation: Offering a wide range of perspectives can lead to better solutions.

A diverse staff also helps patients from under-represented backgrounds to feel more comfortable during their hospital stay. Diversity and inclusion directly impact patient health outcomes and quality of life. Diversity and inclusion are essential in keeping associates engaged and improving the patient experience.

Every culture, every nationality, every single person sees the world in a different way. Similarly, every culture, nationality, and person has different knowledge, perspectives, and points of view. When all of these different views are shared together, miracles can happen.  Just think of the octopus, the ET of earth.

Visit our Education page on our website. Look for Self-Study Lessons Online where you’ll find in-services pre-approved by the CBSPD and HSPA for contact hours.  Register now for our next educational event. The Case For Rigid Containers , August 11, 2022, a webinar on the benefits of converting from conventional blue wrap to universal, rigid containers.

Visit us at www.casemed.com to learn more about our products and how they can help your facility lighten its impact on the environment for the good of us all.