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.