Diversity and Inclusion at Yale New Haven Hospital

At Yale New Haven Hospital diversity and inclusion are important components of our organizational values. The hospital is committed to providing an environment of inclusion that supports the diversity of its patients, visitors, employees, business partners and communities.

Yale New Haven Hospital (YNHH) serves, employs and does business with people and organizations representing many different dimensions of diversity, including race, color, religion, ancestry or national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, physical or mental disability, citizenship status or any other basis protected by law. 

The hospital’s Diversity and Inclusion Team promotes and supports diversity in these key areas:

  • Workforce: Recruiting a diverse workforce that is sensitive to and inclusive of people’s differences, and educating staff on working with diverse team members and caring for diverse patient populations
  • Patient experience: Providing an excellent patient experience by understanding patient diversity and meeting the needs of the many different people the hospital serves
  • Community health: Working with a wide variety of groups and individuals in the community to improve people’s health and access to care
  • Business partners: Doing business with diverse vendors and suppliers

Workforce diversity

Yale New Haven Hospital is committed to providing an environment that encourages the talents and recognizes the uniqueness of each employee. We believe a diverse workforce helps the hospital interact effectively with a diverse community and provides the highest-quality, patient-centered care.

The hospital is strongly committed to the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action and demonstrates this commitment through a policy of providing equal employment opportunities to all employees.

The hospital does not discriminate against any employee or applicant based on race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status or other characteristics protected by federal, state and local law.

All selection decisions are made in line with the Equal Employment Opportunity principle and the hospital’s current Affirmative Action Plan goals. The hospital’s policy of non-discrimination applies to recruiting, hiring, training, transferring, promoting, assignments, compensation and all other personnel decisions.

YNHH provides a diversity and inclusion component in new employee orientation, diversity and inclusion training for all staff and other resources. The hospital’s diversity and inclusion resources also include an Office of Workforce Diversity.

Awards and recognition

Yale New Haven Hospital, as part of Yale New Haven Health System, has been recognized for diversity and inclusion by the National Human Rights Campaign as an LGBT leader in healthcare equality award.

The hospital has also been recognized for diversity and inclusion by the AARP: Best Employers for Workers Over 50; and National Association for Female Executives: 10 Nonprofits for Executive Women.

Diversity and Inclusion at Yale New Haven Health

We define diversity and inclusion as any difference that sets groups and people apart. Aspects of personal and cultural backgrounds that reflect our community’s diverse expectations, values and communication styles may include:

  • Race, color and ethnicity
  • Age
  • Sex
  • Pregnancy or caregiver status
  • Gender identity and expression
  • Sexual orientation
  • Physical or mental disability
  • Religion, ancestry or national origin
  • Citizenship status
  • Marital status
  • Genetic information
  • Veteran status
  • Political affiliation
  • Socioeconomic status 

YNHHS has created a system-wide Diversity & Inclusion strategy through formation of a Health System executive Diversity & Inclusion Committee and Diversity & Inclusion teams at each health care delivery network. The work of these teams involve helping to create an inclusive and supportive environment that embraces the diversity of our employees, patients/families, physicians, visitors and community. The teams are committed to identifying and weaving key diversity principles into day-to-day operations, promoting an understanding of unconscious bias and to foster conscious inclusion. Their work is to help leverage diversity and inclusion. By actively leveraging our diverse personal and cultural backgrounds, Yale New Haven Health is establishing a supportive culture that better enables us to:

  • Enhance our ability to understand and serve our diverse patient population.
  • Attract and retain a quality workforce that brings a wide range of thoughts, ideas and perspectives and is reflective of our patients and community.
  • Position Yale New Haven Health as a leader in diversity and inclusion in the communities we serve.
  • Increase the creativity, quality, teamwork and innovation that come from exploring our differences.
  • Align with Magnet Recognition through the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the Joint Commission and other regulatory agencies related to diversity and cultural competence.

At Yale New Haven Health, employees are encouraged to participate in training and education activities that help grow personally and professionally and better serve patients regardless of background. Examples include:

Career Development
At Yale New Haven Health, we recognize the importance of investing in training and education opportunities for all employees. Employees have access to online and in person career counseling services, which can outline plans for advancement in your chosen field and help those who are interested in advanced education. Our Institute for Excellence develops leadership talent through dynamic learning experiences, including courses in communication, conflict management and valuing differences. Staff also have an opportunity to participate in an on-site School at Work program, which gives employees an opportunity to refresh or develop skills and to be better prepared as they pursue their formal education.

Culturally Competent Care Training
This year-long program for recently hired nurses helps them navigate effective communications between physicians, patients and other staff regardless of personal and cultural background.

Diversity and Inclusion Training
Staff are introduced to our commitment to diversity and inclusion, cultural competence and linguistic competence during New Employee Orientation, and are required to annually complete online modules related to overcoming barriers to communication and understanding diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Health Equity Index Leader Status
Bridgeport Hospital, Yale New Haven Hospital and Greenwich Hospital have been awarded Leader status by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) for meeting all of the Core Four criteria for LGBT patient-centered care in the Healthcare Equality Index. A Requirement to maintaining Leadership status, participating facilities must provide, inform and have key facility employees receive expert training in LGBT patient-centered care. 
 
Diversity and Inclusion Awareness
Diversity and Inclusion Committee members are encouraged to research, create and present ideas as part of the continuing education and awareness around diversity and inclusion. For example, posters on diversity topics are created monthly by Bridgeport Hospital Diversity and Inclusion committee members, which are then presented at leadership meetings and displayed for all staff.

Yale New Haven Health strives to provide opportunity to qualified business, including those owned by small, minority, women, local, veteran and service-disabled veterans. We proactively identify minority-owned businesses and offer them a chance to compete with other suppliers. We welcome the opportunity to build strong, rewarding relationships with high-quality diverse suppliers and service providers in our communities.

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