Here's how you can promote belonging and inclusion in healthcare workplaces.

La empatía es fundamental para realizar labores de riesgos. Según mi experiencia debemos conocer y analizar el comportamiento humano considerando tanto los factores psicológicos como los contextos sociales en los que vivimos. El factor psicosocial es primordial.

Cultivar la empatía implica desarrollar la habilidad de entender y compartir los sentimientos de los demás. Ponte en su lugar: Imagina cómo te sentirías en su situación para entender mejor sus emociones. Sé consciente de tus emociones: Comprender tus propios sentimientos te ayuda a conectar con los de los demás. Observa el lenguaje no verbal: Presta atención al lenguaje corporal y las expresiones faciales para captar emociones. Suspende el juicio: Evita juzgar y acepta las emociones y experiencias de los demás. Practica diariamente: La empatía se mejora con la práctica continua en tu vida diaria.

When I was a student, as a teenager, we would often learn about the different cultures and important festive celebrations. This foundation from my youth has taught me to embrace differences and to seek to look for similarities instead of differences. In my travels to other countries, cultural tolerance is not always upheld and people may even show verbal hostilities to those from a different culture. While cultural empathy may be important in the healthcare setting, it also takes political will and a strong education ministry to strengthen a positive narrative among citizens to appreciate people from different cultures and religions.

Las evidencias basadas en la experiencia, confirman que el diferencial entre líderes "aceptables" y líderes eficientes e influyentes en su entorno, está en su capacidad de conectar con los demás y su entorno. Esa capacidad se basa en la naturalidad y autenticidad del interés por la situación, necesidades, expectativas, inquietudes de los demás, de aquellos que tiene a su lado. En esto consiste la práctica de la empatía, en generar relaciones basadas en la cercanía, el respeto y la confianza mutua. Alguien que no disfruta de relacionarse con los demás, es muy difícil que entienda la empatía y sepa practicarla.

I believe cultivating empathy is the cornerstone of an inclusive healthcare environment. I challenge our team to walk in the shoes of both colleagues and patients, gaining a deep understanding of their journeys. We’ve introduced innovative empathy-building workshops that emphasize immersive communication exercises and active listening skills. By embedding empathy into our daily practices, we create a culture that honors and respects diverse experiences and perspectives. This not only strengthens our team dynamics but also elevates the quality of patient care.

Diversity is a profound strength in Singapore, particularly in the context of hiring. By ensuring that our recruitment processes are unbiased and inclusive, we open the door to a buffet of different perspectives. We have 4 main spoken languages and it's always a disadvantage if there aren't sufficient staff who can speak either English or their mother tongue. This diversity not only enhances problem-solving abilities and creativity but also ensures that our healthcare services are reflective of the multicultural community we serve. A healthcare environment that represents varied backgrounds is crucial for delivering compassionate, culturally sensitive, and effective patient care.

La contratación de profesionales sanitarios, como parte del proceso global de selección, debe tener en cuenta capacidades, motivaciones, y valor de contribución personal a los equipos. Mantener este tipo de criterios al contratar, sólo es posible si se cuenta con el trabajo de un psicólogo especializado en Organizaciones que garantice la ausencia de sesgos discriminatorios, la diversidad de aportaciones a los equipos a través de perfiles garantes en la tarea y diferenciales en aportaciones de perspectivas, enfoques y soluciones.

I believe that diversifying our hiring practices is a game-changer for creating an inclusive healthcare environment. We've revolutionized our recruitment approach to root out any biases that might unintentionally favor certain groups. This involved reimagining job descriptions, interview questions, and evaluation criteria to ensure they speak to and welcome candidates from all backgrounds. By cultivating a diverse workforce, we unlock a treasure trove of perspectives that supercharge our problem-solving abilities and elevate patient care.

La contratacion diversa ,propone revisar las descripciones de puestos, preguntas de entrevistas y criterios de evaluación para eliminar sesgos que puedan excluir a candidatos cualificados de diversos orígenes. Destaca que una fuerza laboral diversa enriquece la perspectiva y mejora la resolución de problemas en el ambiente sanitario.

Where I live in Singapore, we speak different languages. Developing inclusive policies is crucial for fostering a welcoming workplace and for communicating in the native language of patients where possible. These should cover anti-discrimination guidelines and support for diverse cultural and religious practices. Ensuring that these policies are clearly communicated and that employees have easy access to provide feedback or report issues is key. Such policies protect staff; they cultivate a culture of respect and understanding, reinforcing our commitment to an inclusive work environment. It also makes things easier and it builds greater trust.

I think developing inclusive policies is a bold statement of our commitment to a welcoming workplace. I was lucky to be part of a division within the last company I worked for where we led the charge to create dynamic anti-discrimination guidelines, innovative accommodations for disabilities, and robust support for diverse cultural and religious practices. We made sure these policies were not just words on paper but were well-communicated and backed by clear, accessible processes for feedback and reporting concerns.

El profesional de la Salud es alguien en quien confían las personas cuando su equilibrio fisico-biológico-emocional está en juego. Responder a esta expectativa de forma constante en el tiempo, exige un total compromiso con nuestra formación continua y permanente, para ampliar nuestros conocimientos, adquirir habilidades, asimilar nuevas técnicas y evolucionar como profesionales para responder a las necesidades cambiantes de los pacientes que confían en nosotros.

For example, we recently held a session where team members took on roles reflecting various cultural contexts and medical situations, which deeply enhanced their empathy and understanding. These creative, hands-on approaches keep the inclusion conversation fresh and ensure our team is always growing in their ability to provide inclusive care.

For instance, we recently launched a mentorship ERG that pairs seasoned professionals with newer staff from underrepresented backgrounds, providing career development and personal growth opportunities. These groups not only offer support and enhance professional development but also give invaluable insights into the needs of our diverse workforce.

La supervisión es la mejor herramienta para garantizar el crecimiento y evolución profesional en el ámbito de las ciencias de la Salud y de la Vida. La figura de un Mentor, profesional de mayor experiencia, visión, trayectoria y madurez personal/profesional que el Mentee, facilita una referencia de seguridad, contraste y calidad en la toma de decisiones con visión a medio plazo.