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Source: North Shore Long Island Jewish Health System

North Shore-LIJ Is Recognized for Its Diversity for the Second Year in a Row

GREAT NECK, N.Y., April 23, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The North Shore-LIJ Health System announced today that for the second straight year it has been ranked by DiversityInc as one of the top 10 health systems in the country for its inclusive practices regarding diversity.

DiversityInc's goal is to educate groups about the benefits of having a diverse workforce.

North Shore-LIJ was ranked ninth on the DiversityInc Top 10 Hospitals and Health Systems list, as it was last year. DiversityInc recognized North Shore-LIJ's commitment to veterans through the business employee resource group Veterans and Allies: Liaisons for Reintegration (VALOR), embracing employees who are military service members, veterans, family members and those interested in veterans' affairs. Among its many offerings, VALOR has a mentoring component that pairs newly hired veterans with North Shore-LIJ staff members to help veterans transition back into the civilian workforce.

"Receiving this recognition again from DiversityInc further validates North Shore-LIJ's approach to diversity and inclusion within healthcare," said Jennifer H. Mieres, MD, chief diversity and inclusion officer and senior vice president of North Shore-LIJ's community and public health divisions. "Providing culturally-sensitive healthcare is critical to patient outcomes and that includes not only effectively communicating with our patients and their families but also embracing and promoting diversity in our workforce."

With hospitals in Manhattan, Staten Island, Queens and Long Island, the North Shore-LIJ Health System serves many diverse populations in the New York metropolitan area.

"Through effective partnerships with our communities and health system employees, we focus on providing  culturally competent care so patients feel safe, comfortable, respected  and a valued part of our healthcare team" said Barbara Felker, MS, MDiv, North Shore-LIJ's vice president of diversity and inclusion. In addition to offering programs for veterans such as VALOR, North Shore-LIJ promotes diversity and inclusion in its education initiatives, community partnerships, policies and hiring practices.

For more information about North Shore-LIJ's office of diversity, inclusion and health literacy, call 516-396-6371.