Urge Orlando Health to Become More Culturally Competent
Several months ago a group of Orlando Health team members presented a proposal to key executive leaders of the organization calling for the development of a diversity initiative to benefit the organization, its team members, physicians and patients and the community at large. After several meetings with key leaders within the organization nothing has happened.
There are several discrepancies and inconsistencies within Orlando Health's team member and patient policies in regard to diversity/multicultural awareness.
Some examples include:
-Orlando Health does not allow team members to form groups to discuss diversity/multicultural awareness.
-Orlando Health does not educate its team members about the culturally competent way to treat its patients and team members in regard to important racial and ethnic differences.
-Orlando Health protects a team member's sexual orientation in its team member nondiscrimination policy, but does not do so in its patient's bill of rights.
-Orlando Health does not protect the gender identity of its team members or patients.
-Orlando Health does not provide domestic partner health benefits for its team members, regardless of sexual orientation.
-Orlando Health's mission is "to improve the health and quality of life of the individuals and communities we serve." Due to the above and the unknown number of opportunities for recruitment and advancement the organization has not yet explored, Orlando Health is behind other business leaders.
As the fifth largest employer in Central Florida, it is time Orlando Health lead like Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld Orlando and several other top employers in the market and develop a diversity/multicultural awareness initiative that will ultimately lead to the organization establishing a diversity/multicultural office to better achieve its mission.
Alan L. Bounville
Former Orlando Health team member and donor in good standing with the organization
