Communication: bridging the racial and ethnic divide in health care management.

The emerging body of literature on racial and ethnic diversity in health services management reveals four pervasive and formidable challenges for health care industry leadership. These are: under-representation of people of color in health services management, persistent gaps in both compensation and satisfaction between managers of color and white managers, and racial and ethnic disparities in medical care process and outcomes. Focus groups of health care managers were assembled to explore the intersection of race, ethnicity, and health care management. Results of the focus group discussions support the need for meaningful dialogue that aims to identify common ground and shared purpose so that appropriate actioncan be taken to bridge the racial and ethnic divide.