PBN DIVERSITY & INCLUSIONS 2020 AWARDS
Health Care: Providence Community Health Centers
AS THE LARGEST primary health care provider in Providence, and with a patient base of more than 60,000, Providence Community Health Centers cannot help but tackle diversity head on every day. But it is the organization’s commitment to inclusion that makes PCHC so impressive.
Along with having an active and engaged diversity-and-inclusion committee for the past four years, PCHC has developed a diversity-and-inclusion strategic plan and a diversity/racial-equity action plan. PCHC also instituted a community-relations department dedicated to outreach in all the Providence neighborhoods that the organization serves.
“It is important we are hearing from the community and have a venue where we could celebrate things,” PCHC Chief of Human Resources and Marketing Cheryl Perry said.
For hiring, PCHC has filed an affirmative-action plan with the state, works with local Black community leaders of management openings, and posts jobs on various industry-specific and professional websites – including websites to attract minority and female candidates. So far, the organization this year has hired 59% minority individuals and 78% female individuals across all open positions, and 38% minority and 63% females across all management openings.
“Being so diverse, we typically hire folks from the community,” Perry said. “Having a true mix of diversity gives us a better understanding of what the community and employees are looking for.”
Perry said PCHC’s proudest achievement recently was working with Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island to achieve Safe Zone certification. The certification identifies health care practices that provide safe, affirming and inclusive care to the LGBTQ+ community.
“It is really important for us to make sure the community feels safe when they come to us, that we are educated on how to talk to people, that we are aware of what people are going through,” Perry said. “We wanted to not just provide services, but to educate people that we are one, regardless of who we love or who we want to be. We are an organization that embraces everyone, and regardless of your background, gender [and] religion, we want to service you.”
PCHC is considered the safety-net provider for people who are facing major financial, social, cultural and language barriers to quality, affordable primary care. Perry said health care does not always provide a positive experience, especially when someone receives bad news or has specific restrictions on medical care based on their religion or culture.
“The key piece is our patients see people that look like them, speak their language [and] dress like them,” Perry said. “If we can make them feel comfortable and embrace their background, it can make a big difference in the service and care they need as they move forward.”
PCHC also provides educational opportunities for employees to learn to speak Spanish, and offers diversity, leadership and LGBTQ+ training for employees.
PCHC also looks to provide indirect financial support to surrounding underserved neighborhoods by doing things such as seeking out minority- and female-owned businesses when remodeling or building a new facility.
Perry said PCHC’s commitment to diversity and inclusion extends far beyond its offices. The organization has a long history of collaborating with like-minded organizations to build and nurture partnerships with key organizations, groups, and leaders and nontraditional partners representing the diverse communities they serve.
PCHC also builds trust by consistently having a presence in the community and delivering a message that is linguistically and culturally appropriate. PCHC has a team of dedicated community health advocates with a primary mission of working with patients in the community to address social determinants of health.
“Once someone gets comfortable, there is a community relation,” Perry said. “It gets people talking and gets people to really understand that as an organization, if this person works here and they’ve built a relationship with them, maybe they will come in. If you look like me, if you sound like me, people are more open to trusting you and the organization.”
