The Value of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Home and Alternate Site Infusion Therapy - INFUSION Article

Research demonstrates that greater diversity enhances the accuracy of clinical decision-making, increases patient satisfaction, and improves health outcomes. Ensuring that patients feel heard and understood within the healthcare system is crucial, and delivering care that prioritizes these principles is equally important. Workforce diversity in healthcare significantly impacts access to care, health equity, and job opportunities in underserved communities. Moreover, diversity within the workforce benefits employees, fostering a sense of belonging and helping to reduce burnout and turnover. This article presents findings from a small study of home infusion professionals, their backgrounds, and their employers' diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The results show that the home infusion industry recognizes the value of DEI, is committed to making progress, and has implemented programs and training to support these efforts. Organizations are actively working to recruit a more diverse workforce while fostering an environment where employees feel valued and included. This activity is designed for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, nurses, and dietitians.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Explain the relationship between diversity in the health care workforce and health outcomes. 
  2. List 3 ways in which greater diversity in the health care workforce can benefit employees.
  3. List 3 key demographics among pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, registered dietitians, and registered nurses.
  4. List 3 key demographic findings among the home infusion survey respondents.

NHIA General CE Information

Eintou Ford, MS, PharmD

Eintou Ford, MS, PharmD

Pharmacy Manager

UNC Homecare Specialists

Eintou Ford, MS, PharmD is Pharmacy Manager at UNC Homecare Specialists in Durham, North Carolina. She has experience as a clinical infusion pharmacist and in research laboratories. Ford has served as a preceptor for several pharmacy college students and has numerous publications and speaking engagements to her credit. She serves on NHIA's Education Committee and is a member of ASHP and the North Carolina Association of Pharmacists. Ford received her B.S. in Biology from Norfolk State University, graduating cum laude, a M.S. in Biology from North Carolina Central University, and a Pharm.D. from Campbell University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Buies Creek, North Carolina.

NHIA Requires planners, faculty, and others who affect the content of this activity to disclose all financial relationships they have with ineligible companies. All relevant financial relationships are thoroughly vetted and mitigated according to policy. 

Eintou Ford has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose.

Christina Ritchey, MS RD LD CNSC FASPEN FNHIA

Christina Ritchey, MS RD LD CNSC FASPEN FNHIA

Clinical Program Manager

Optum Infusion Pharmacy

Christina Ritchey, MS, RD, LD, CNSC, FASPEN, FNHIA is a Clinical Program Manager at Optum Infusion Pharmacy, where she focuses on the parenteral nutrition program and manages the company's central region of clinical nutrition support dietitians. She has worked in the home infusion industry for 15 years. She serves on NHIA's Clinical Practice Committee, Optum's Infusion Pharmacy Health Equity team, and United Health's Inspire Mentor Program. She is the Chair-Elect for ASPEN’s Home and Alternate Site Care Section and is an active TASPEN Board Member. Ritchey received the National Home Infusion Foundation's Outstanding Abstract Achievement Award in 2021 and has numerous publications and speaking engagements to her credit. She received a B.S. degree in Biomedical Science from Texas A&M University and received an M.S. in Nutrition from the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio. She is a certified nutrition support clinician and a fellow of ASPEN and NHIA.

NHIA Requires planners, faculty, and others who affect the content of this activity to disclose all financial relationships they have with ineligible companies. All relevant financial relationships are thoroughly vetted and mitigated according to policy. 

Christina Ritchey has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose.

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8 Questions The Value of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Home and Alternate Site Infusion Therapy INFUSION Article 1.0 CE JA4008389-0000-25-221-H99-P&T & 203286308-RN&RD
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