Community

Spectrum Health Earns Diversity Distinction

Spectrum Health has been recognized by The Institute for Diversity in Health Management, an affiliate of the American Hospital Association. Spectrum Health was identified as a Promising Practice for “Strengthening a Diverse Workforce.”

The Institute for Diversity in Health Management honored participants in its “State of Health Care Diversity and Disparities: A Benchmark Study of U.S. Hospitals” at its 2010 National Leadership and Educational Conference.  This first-of-its-kind survey was designed to provide a snapshot of the hospital field’s progress on promoting diversity, and to help hospitals assess and improve their internal diversity programs. 

The survey assessed diversity initiatives in four categories: expanding the diversity of the organization’s governance body and leadership team; effectively engaging the diverse communities that the organization serves; strengthening a diverse workforce throughout the organization; and delivering culturally and linguistically competent patient care throughout the organization. 

The survey was created in partnership with HR Solutions, Inc., and funded by a three-year grant from the ARAMARK Charitable Fund at the Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program.

Spectrum Health is a not-for-profit health system in West Michigan that offers a full continuum of care through the Spectrum Health Hospital Group, a collection of eight hospitals and more than 140 service sites; the Spectrum Health Medical Group, mmpc® and West Michigan Heart—physician groups totaling more than 400 providers; and Priority Health, a health plan with nearly 580,000 members. Spectrum Health’s 16,000 employees, 1,500 medical staff members and 2,000 volunteers are committed to delivering the highest quality care. The organization provided $79.4 million in community benefit during its 2009 fiscal year. In 2010, Spectrum Health was named a Top 10 Health System by Thomson Reuters.