Please click the link below to watch the cultural awareness training video.  
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDvLk7e2Irc&feature=plcp

    Indispensable Healthcare values diversity and believes that diversity of backgrounds brings a variety of ideas, perspectives, and experiences that will create a productive work environment in which talents are fully utilized.  All Pharmacy policies, remuneration opportunities, hours of work, performance reviews, corrective, or other procedures are designed to promote equal opportunity and protection for all Pharmacy personnel.  Religious or cultural beliefs and background, or other issues of diversity are recognized, respected, and are considered when providing services, supplies, and care to Beneficiaries.  
 
     All Pharmacy personnel, regardless of their position, are expected to comply with this policy and take appropriate measures to ensure that improper conduct with co-workers and Beneficiaries does not occur.  Appropriate corrective action will be taken against any Pharmacy personnel who violate this policy.

Definition

     Diversity is a collection of individuals bringing together varied demographic, cultural, human, intellectual, and philosophical differences to help create an environment that honors and respects those differences in a safe and supportive environment.

     Most characteristics of diversity are interdependent and may even seem to overlap.  Diversity describes people, which is an inexact science.  Strict characterization, differences, and separations, as well as, the degree to which some aspects are more valued than others, are the result of cultural influences and an individual’s fixed point-of-view; they are not a part of the definition of diversity, which is naturally all-inclusive.

Visible Diversity

     • Characteristics over which a person has little or no control, but that contribute to assumptions, expectations, opportunities, and identities.
     • Includes race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, and disability.

Cultural Diversity

     • Characteristics over which a person has more control.  Can impact behaviors, communication, attitudes, and identities.
     • Includes geographic location, socio/economic status, education, relationship status, parental status, values, beliefs, and faith/religion.

Diversity of Thought and Behavior

     • Unique characteristics that emerge from visible and environmental diversity and manifest as thoughts, ideas, and behaviors.  Directly impacts view of self and others and the ability to successfully interact with others.
     • Includes talents, skills, knowledge, strengths, capabilities, intellect, emotions, thinking styles, learning styles, communication styles, work styles, habits, hobbies, and appearance.

Organizational Diversity

     • Characteristics that describe a person’s place within an organization.
     • Includes length of service, role, position, team, department, business unit, hierarchy, and work location.

Diversity of Communication

     • Vocabulary, grammatical structure, voice qualities, rhythm, speed, silence, facial expressions, and body posture all can vary from culture to culture.  Some cultures view direct eye contact as disrespectful.

Spatial Diversity

     • In some cultures, people are territorial and do not like others to encroach upon their own personal space.  In other cultures, personal space is shared.  Health care workers must respect how members of various cultural backgrounds view their personal space.

Environmental Control Diversity

     • The need to control or manipulate the environment can be different from culture to culture.

Diversity Related to Time

     • Some cultures focus on the past and are tradition-based; others are present-oriented and “live for today”; others look toward the future and tend to postpone immediate gratification in favor of future gain.

Social Organizational Diversity

     • The family unit is at the center of almost every culture.  How a particular culture views the family unit might affect how a member is treated when he or she becomes ill.

Diversity of Biological Variations

     • Scientific evidence shows that members of specific races or ethnic groups can be more prone or more resistant to certain diseases or illnesses.  Different races or ethnic groups can also respond to medications differently and have an increase in side effects.

Diversity of Religious Beliefs

     • This may affect the foods an individual eats, they may have specific times of day that they will pray, and they may wear religious items.