Diversified leadership is important to many healthcare organizations, but more commitment is needed to close the gap, according to a recent survey by executive search firm Witt/Kieffer.
"Closing the Gap in Healthcare Leadership" is the fourth in a series of reports by Witt/Kieffer since 1998. Of the 311 survey participants, 55 percent identified as Caucasian and 45 percent identified as racially/ethnically diverse individuals. Thirty-one percent of respondents identified as female and 69 percent identified as male. Three-quarters of respondents were CEOs or other C-suite executives and vice presidents.
Here are four main findings from the survey.
1. Just 26 percent of healthcare executives with diverse backgrounds agreed healthcare organizations have been effective at closing the diversity leadership gap over the past five years, versus 57 percent of Caucasian respondents.
2. Nearly two-thirds of respondents (66 percent) agreed diverse leadership enables an organization to reach its strategic goals. Several interviewees pointed out a connection between diversity and successful population health initiatives, while 71 percent agree that diverse leadership adds to successful decision-making and 72 percent feel that it positively impacts equity of care.
3. Just 10 percent of minority respondents agreed minority executives are well-represented in healthcare organization management teams. For Caucasian respondents, 26 percent agree.
4. Barriers to success include lack of commitment by top management (indicated by 85 percent for racially/ethnically diverse respondents and by 53 percent for Caucasian respondents); lack of diverse candidates participating in the executive search process (indicated by 77 percent for Caucasian respondents and 52 percent for racially/ethnically diverse respondents); and lack of commitment by the board (indicated by 72 percent for racially/ethnically diverse respondents and 35 percent for Caucasian respondents).