The Reading Hospital's Diversity & Inclusion Council recently conducted an informal survey and discovered that employees speak at least 37 different languages at Reading Hospital.
Approximately 225 employees responded to the survey asking them to reply with "hello" in their first language. While 32 respondents answered in English, 193 employees responded in other languages. The top five non-English languages were Spanish (94 responses), French (11 responses), Romanian (9 responses), Vietnamese (9 responses), and African-Creole (8 responses). The full list is available below.
The Council conducted this voluntary survey during its initial fact-finding and inquiry phase of development. It hopes to use this information as part of its effort to continue ensuring a working environment where all people feel not only included but appreciated for their individuality.
"Reading Hospital is proud of our diverse workforce, reflecting the multi-cultural community that we serve," said William M. Jennings, President and Chief Executive Officer, Reading Hospital and Co-Chair of the Diversity & Inclusion Council. "Better understanding who our employees are will help us create an inclusive environment where everyone is encouraged to share and celebrate both their differences and similarities."
"The Diversity & Inclusion Council's work is just getting started," said Desha Dickson, Associate Vice President, Community Wellness, Reading Hospital and Co-Chair of the Council. "We understand the importance of our mission and how supporting employee diversity upholds Reading Hospital's core values while also enriching the patient experience and the quality of care we deliver."
Diversity encompasses a wide array of attributes including religion, ethnicity, age, race, gender, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, personality, and style. Reading Hospital formed the Diversity & Inclusion Council in 2019 for the purpose of fostering a culture that is welcoming and accepting of everyone's unique background, perspective, and experience at Reading Hospital.
The Council includes more than 20 employees representing all levels of the Hospital's clinical, support, and administrative functions.
"Hello" Survey Results
| Spanish: 94 | Bulgarian: 1 |
| English: 32 | Polish: 4 |
| Vietnamese: 9 | German: 2 |
| Shona (Zimbabwe): 1 | Punjabi: 1 |
| Telugu: 4 | French: 11 |
| Tamil: 1 | Tagalog (Philippines): 4 |
| Maasai: 1 | Portuguese: 1 |
| Yoruba : 4 | Arabic: 2 |
| Romanian: 9 | Azeri (former Soviet Union): 1 |
| Irish: 1 | Amharic (Ethiopian): 1 |
| Gujarati: 1 | Mandingo (West Africa): 1 |
| Russian: 4 | Armenian: 1 |
| Jamaican: 1 | Greek: 1 |
| Italian: 4 | Patois: 2 |
| Hmong: 2 | Fula: 1 |
| Albanian: 1 | African-Creole: 8 |
| Hindu: 7 | Korean: 1 |
| Kiswahili: 1 | Teme: 1 |
| Chinese (Mandarin): 4 |
About Reading Hospital
Reading Hospital is the flagship, Magnet Recognized, acute care hospital of Tower Health. Located in West Reading, Pa., Reading Hospital is a 714-bed hospital that is home to many top-tier specialty care centers, including Reading HealthPlex, McGlinn Cancer Institute, Miller Regional Heart Center, Emergency Department, Level I Trauma Center and Beginnings Maternity Center, which houses the region's only Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). With more than 1,000 physicians, specialists, and advanced practice providers across 49 locations, Reading Hospital has been recognized for its quality outcomes and clinical expertise across services lines. It is listed as one of America's 100 Best Hospitals for four consecutive years and received a 5-Star Rating from CMS two years in a row. For more information, visit towerhealth.org.