Blacks, Hispanics, and American Indians make up more than 25 percent of the U.S. population, but account for only 9 percent of the nation’s nurses, 6 percent of its physicians, and 5 percent of its dentists, according to a report released September 20 by the Sullivan Commission on Diversity in the Healthcare Work Force.
In addition, the report said faculty numbers in health professional schools show similar disparities. Minorities comprise less than 10 percent of baccalaureate nursing faculties, 8.6 percent of dental school faculties, and only 4.2 percent of medical school faculties.
"If the trends continue, the health work force of the future will resemble the population even less than it does today. Viewed in the context of demographic projections showing that no racial or ethnic group will comprise a majority by the year 2050, that decline could be catastrophic," according to the report, Missing Persons: Minorities in the Health Professions.
To improve minority representation in health professions, the report calls for a strategy that includes improving elementary and high school education and for more federal and state action on the issue.
To improve minority representation in health professions, the report calls for a strategy that includes improving elementary and high school education and for more federal and state action on the issue.
The Sullivan Commission on Diversity in the Healthcare Workforce, composed of 16 health, education, legal, and business leaders, is headed by former Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Louis Sullivan. The commission is funded by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation and is administered by the Duke University School of Medicine.
For the report findings, the commission held six field hearings and a nationally broadcast town hall meeting, and heard from more than 140 witnesses.
The president and chief executive officer of the National Hispanic Medical Association said in a September 17 statement that a more diverse health care work force can improve minority health status. "We can have a far greater impact on the health of our minority communities if our society supported programs that significantly increase the numbers of Hispanic and other minority doctors, dentists and nurses," said Elena Rios, president and CEO of NHMA.
Increasing Diversity
According to the report, a focus on three principles is essential to increasing diversity in health professions. First, the culture of health profession schools must change, the report said. Among the report’s recommendations is that there be less dependency on standardized testing, and a shift in financing of health professions education from student loans to scholarships.
In addition, the report recommends that new and nontraditional paths to the health professions be explored. For instance, students attending community colleges must be encouraged to continue their education and explore health profession opportunities.
Also, the report calls for strengthening elementary through high school education to prepare students to pursue careers in health professions. The Associationn Medical Colleges (AAMC) in a September 20 statement said it is urging the Sullivan Commission to focus on improving education to prepare more minorities to apply to health professional schools.
When compared with white students, racial and ethnic minorities receive a K-12 education of measurably lower quality, score lower on standardized tests, and are less likely to finish high school, according to the report.
The medical college association said the "pipeline issue must be addressed if we are to attain the racial and ethnic diversity necessary in the next generation of doctors. Consequently, we fervently hope that the major improvements in K-12 education called for by the commission can be achieved."
However, the association said it is concerned about the commission's call for medical schools to reduce their reliance on standardized tests for admissions. In addition to standardized test scores, admissions boards seek out students with academic potential from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
To improve the number of racial and ethnic minorities entering health professions, the report said action beyond the medical school level is needed. Among the report's recommendations is for federal and state legislation to strengthen the institutions that serve underrepresented populations, and the development of a presidential interagency task force to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to improve diversity in the health care work force.
In addition, there needs to be a substantial increase in federal funding to support diversity programs within the National Health Service Corps and Titles VII and VIII of the Public Health Service Act.
Sullivan said the diversity commission will be proactive in trying to ensure that its recommendations are instituted. Speaking at a press conference, Sullivan said he hopes to share the report's findings with congressional and state leaders.
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HEALTH CARE WORKERS COUNCIL
