Not Quite There Yet: Striving to Create a Diverse and Inclusive Palliative Care Workforce (FR459)

Abstract

•Describe demographics of current palliative care workforce and fellowship training programs.•Appreciate perspectives and raise awareness on aspects of diversity and inclusion to improve recruitment of underrepresented professionals.•Identify challenges and develop strategies to create and better support a diverse workforce in palliative care. The U.S. Census Bureau projects that by 2050, 54% of the population will be ethnic and racial minorities. A report from the Sullivan Commission on Diversity in the Healthcare Workforce from 2004 stated: “The fact that the nation’s health professions have not kept pace with changing demographics may be an even greater cause of disparities in health access and outcomes than the persistent lack of health insurance for tens of millions of Americans. Today’s physicians, nurses, and dentists have too little resemblance to the diverse populations they serve, leaving many Americans feeling excluded by a system that seems distant and uncaring.” With the changes in U.S. demographics, achieving greater diversity in the healthcare workforce can lead to a more culturally competent workforce, increase access to high quality care for medically underserved, strengthen the research agenda and prepare a more diverse pool of future leaders. AAHPM has recently developed a Diversity Strategic Plan and identified themes tied to the academy’s strategic goals, including membership diversity, cultural competency in patient care and programming and quality of patient care, with attention on disparities. The National Association of Social Workers Standards and Indicators for Cultural Competence also supports cross cultural knowledge, skills, service delivery, workforce diversity, education and leadership. The Standards of Practice for Professional Chaplains in Hospice and Palliative Care reflect inclusivity and respect for diversity as foundational values. This concurrent session will provide a brief overview of what is known about workforce demographics in palliative care and through narrative stories provide various perspectives from diverse applicants, team members, fellowship directors and institutional policies and processes that foster a diverse and inclusive work environment. Through small group discussion, we will seek to address challenges and barriers and identify strategies for creating a diverse and inclusive work environment.