WHY IT’S ON THE LIST
University of New Mexico Hospitals is on the Top 10 Hospitals and Health Systems list for the second year in a row. The system’s workforce is unique among the Top 10 in its workforce demographics: 45 percent of employees are Latino, and more than 4 percent are American Indian. Reflective of its demographics, the system’s board has American Indian and Latino representation.
The primary goal of the hospital’s Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion is to identify and address any health disparities in the care patients receive. This is accomplished through mandatory cultural-competence training for the entire staff, including physicians and nurses, and the creation of a Health Literacy Task Force that develops patient-friendly, culturally sensitive communications.
To further ensure that culturally competent care is provided, the hospital system has launched the UNMH LGBT Collaborative, which educates the UNMH community about LGBT health issues and creates an environment that is supportive of LGBT employees, patients, families, friends and allies. It also has a Native American Health Service Office and extensive American Indian interpreter services.
