Lakewood Health System Receives Inclusive Workforce Employer Designation

Staples, MN – July 1, 2022 — The Regional Workforce Alliance (RWA) of Northwest Minnesota has recognized Lakewood Health System is an Inclusive Workforce Employer (I-WE) for their commitment to, and development of, an inclusive and equitable culture within their business and region. The I-WE designation was created to recognize and promote inclusive employers, reduce regional disparities and bring awareness to the value and methods of increasing workforce diversity.

In order to receive the I-WE designation, each pilot participant had to meet four criteria set by the RWA:

• Express a commitment to an inclusive workplace in their stated values, mission or policies.
• Assess how diversity, equity and inclusion influence their work and culture.
• Provide diversity, equity and inclusion education for staff and leadership.
• Allocate resources to support and sustain an inclusive and equitable workplace.

In the past year, Lakewood has made a commitment to different equity and inclusion strategies. The first being the AHA/MHA 123 Pledge for Equity which helps provide a pathway for Lakewood to ensure every person in the communities served receives high-quality, equitable and safe care by eliminating healthcare disparities.

The second commitment was to obtain the I-WE designation through Region 5. This designation commits Lakewood to work on the following: continuing to build an inclusive workplace, organizational assessment to identify areas of opportunity, DEI training and allocating resources to sustain the work.

Lakewood continues to assess and grow in knowledge and awareness within the areas of equity and inclusion to better care for patients, and remain a workplace of choice for employees.