The Importance of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion From the Clinician’s Perspective

ABSTRACTBackground:Clinical care contributes approximately 16% to health outcomes. Access to care and quality of care contribute to favorable health outcomes. Clinicians employing diversity, equity and inclusionary strategies in their patient encounters can improve access to care and quality care.Methods:Vignettes are used to personify elements of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) during clinician encounters and how they impact their patient outcomes.Results:Diversity in the oral health team composition is important to the clinician because it helps the clinician relate more effectively to a diverse patient population and offer more resources. Having difficult but necessary conversations can facilitate getting patients the resources they need to achieve their highest state of health. Inclusion is important to clinicians who leverage interprofessional collaborations for whole-person care and involve their team members to make their patients feel respected, understood and welcome. Embracing DEI helps the clinician to facilitate getting patients into treatment, promote continuity of care and adherence.Conclusions:Providing oral care that is equitable and inclusive in a diverse environment helps safeguard patients from vulnerabilities that adversely affect health outcomes. Employing DEI in clinical encounters is important to clinicians because it helps them meet their obligation of service to patients.Practical implications:Dental clinicians are in a position to play a key role in promoting health equity by embodying DEI principles. Working interprofessionally and creating a dental team with a diverse representation of social identities are some of the many ways clinicians can foster inclusion and equity within their practice.