At the core of healthcare lies a fundamental value- to help people. Millions of people of all ages, genders, and ethnicities are cared for at healthcare organizations each year. Patients are not limited to one demographic, and the people who care for them shouldn’t be either.

The case for diversity is clear- besides the obvious moral and ethical reasons, companies that have a diverse workforce have higher employee engagement and better retention rates. Not to mention, studies over the last 3-5 years have proven that companies who are more diverse are more likely to financially outperform their peers.

Hiring, retaining, and engaging diverse talent should be at the top of every organization’s agenda- coupled with creating an engaging and inclusive working environment. What does that mean within healthcare information technology?

Haley Fountain will discuss what being a “diverse” workforce means, the value of diverse teams and why it’s essential to the success of healthcare organizations. As healthcare professionals continue to increasingly rely on new technology for their daily roles, the gap between the providers, the technology and the people who create, maintain, and upgrade it is also becoming smaller. Additionally, she will show case studies from various organizations and give practical steps that every group, regardless of size, can take to increase their talent pool of diverse candidates, and retain/promote the diverse employees they are already have.

Haley Fountain

Client Relationship Manager
The Hydrogen Group

Currently Client Relationship Manager at global specialist staffing company, Hydrogen Group, Haley has several years’ experience in recruitment – helping organizations find the right talent. Passionate about people, relationships, development and training, Haley is an accomplished writer and blogger – her interview series on ‘Inspiring Women’ has received critical acclaimed reviews and has further ignited her interest in minority groups as well as diversity and inclusion in the workplace.  She has interviewed executive women of varying ethnicities at companies like Uber, American Airlines, and Memorial Hermann about their biggest challenges and greatest successes, giving further ammunition in her belief that diverse companies perform better. Haley is heavily involved in her community, through organizations like Houston Pets Alive, Houston Area Women’s Center and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. She currently serves as the Community Events Leader for Houston HIMSS.