List date(s) this work was published or aired.
July 28-August 2, 2011
Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
I assess the progress of diversity at St. Louis-based BJC Healthcare in the newspaper’s annual diversity special section, In a series of three stories, I examined diversity and inclusion efforts at two other top healthcare corporations of similar size and scope to BCJ. Partners Health in Massachusetts and Duke Health in North Carolina were selected.
Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
Census data was used for demographic comparison, along with information posted online at the corporate and individual hospital websites; background info garnered from previously posted stories about the hospital systems and key leadership.
Explain types of human sources used.
I spoke with medical school and hospital faculty, management and staff at each organization. I used the AHCJ-listserve to get names connected to Partners Health to contact when its corporate communications team refused to respond to interview requests.
Results:
Among the three, Duke Health is by far most inclusive and diverse in its hospital leadership and medical school student body and faculty. BJC in St. Louis is in the middle, with some progress toward diversity and a lot of work to be done in its leadership. Partners Health appears to have no corporate commitment to diversity and leaves whatever progess is made to individual institutions. Massachusetts General appears to be its one shining star.
Follow-up (if any). Have you run a correction or clarification on the report or has anyone come forward to challenge its accuracy? If so, please explain.
No
Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
Examining health care systems of similar size and scope in different cities offers common ground on which to compare.