Supporting Inclusivity in Insurance & Healthcare
Insurance professionals — as well as the insurance and healthcare industries as a whole — all have a duty to the clients and patients they serve. Similarly, solution providers like us have a large responsibility to assist both payors and providers in their mission to deliver the most expedient, high quality service for those in their care.
This deep, shared responsibility extends to the diverse communities and individuals our industries serve. It means that a focus on racial equity and inclusivity is not only timely, but of paramount importance in 2020 and the years to come.
From Responsibility Comes Courageous Conversations
Recent events in American history — such as the death of George Floyd, a Black man who was killed by police on May 25, 2020 — have further emphasized the need for all people, professionals, and businesses to engage in meaningful conversations about race in America. However, those conversations have begun with a unique set of challenges to overcome.
Overcoming The Challenges Of Conversations About Race
The Big “I” Diversity Council — a cooperative industry group formed of multicultural member agents and insurance company executives — also recognizes this importance. Insurance agents, companies, and those who support them have a unique opportunity to influence others and cultivate these conversations.
To help accomplish this goal, the Council created the Courageous Conversations Toolkit.
How Can The Courageous Conversations Toolkit Help Me?
All employees and executive leadership, both inside the insurance and healthcare industries and otherwise, can benefit from the steps outlined in the toolkit. The toolkit outlines best practices for holding group conversations about race along with insights on the right questions to ask, discussion points to cover, and what to expect. While these conversations won’t always be easy, and may involve discomfort, they are a vital step towards actions which will lead to a future without racial injustice.
Bennie Jones — chairman of the Big “I” Diversity Council and president of Risk Management Solutions of America, the developers of Swiftivity* — says:
“When I look at an organization with an eye towards diversity and inclusion, three areas come to mind. First, the employee base: do your employees reflect society as well as your customer base? Second, the company leadership: who is making decisions at the top, and is there diversity of thought? The third and final area is the company’s vendor base: are you spending your dollars in a way that gives diverse companies an opportunity to grow?
If the answer is “Yes” to two of the three, your organization is headed in the right direction — and if it’s “Yes” to all three, you are on your way to success. If only one box is checked, congratulate yourself on starting the journey and keep it up. Many companies are unable to answer “Yes” to any of these questions, but a turnaround is possible if quick action is taken. That’s where these tools become especially valuable as companies work to meet these goals.”
More information is available on the Big I official website, and the toolkit can be downloaded here.
*Swiftivity provides EDI solutions and electronic prior authorization for the healthcare of injured employees, supporting the workers’ comp industry.
