Assessing the Culture of Diversity Among Professionals at a Midwestern Children’s Hospital

The ever-changing ethnic and cultural landscape of the United States drives the need to better understand diversity in its workforce. The purpose of this study was to conduct an equity audit in a midwestern children’s hospital’s psychosocial department to assess the perceived culture of the diversity climate. The goal of the equity audit was to uncover ways in which the department could identify needs and strengthen awareness towards the development of an inclusive environment. The equity audit was conducted in the form of a questionnaire addressing four main themes identified in workplace diversity research: physical environment, matching, communication, and leadership. Results showed that the culture of diversity appeared to be an optimistic one with many opportunities for growth and change. Overall, the questionnaire proved helpful in assessing the culture of diversity among professionals at the Midwestern Children’s hospital and identifying opportunities for awareness and inclusion.