Dr. Copeland explains how health equity should be positioned within a healthcare system by integrating it into the business model, connecting it to the values and mission of the organization, and creating goals around it. He also discusses the need to transform and enable the culture in order to ensure that it's top of mind for all staff members.
Effectively Integrating Health Equity Work
To make sure that we are effectively integrating health equity work, it is important to acknowledge the false dichotomy of health equity and quality and break that mindset. We must stay in the conversation even if it is hard, be real about how far we have to go, and embrace the discomfort of learning. Advocate Aurora has refreshed its D&I strategy in the past year and is rolling out some new and advanced metrics to understand gaps in the workforce, community, and patients served.
Tackling Healthcare Issues
In order to tackle healthcare issues, it is important to have strong partnerships and data teams that can assess the data. Nemours recently received donations to start its health equity institute, which works to make their own workforce's children the healthiest in the country. Building trust between patients and healthcare providers is a top priority at Kaiser Permanente, and this requires understanding the institution's history, reconciliation, and responsibility.
Improving Health Outcomes
Trust should be considered a social determinant of health, as it is the enabler of leveraging all of that activity and those opportunities for improvement. Queens Health System in Hawaii has been addressing health inequities for native Hawaiians and other groups by going to the community and listening to their needs, partnering with universities and other organizations to understand the data, and creating systemic solutions such as providing medical respite, focusing on behavioral health, and tackling diabetes.
Our panel discussed how healthcare in America needs to be addressed in order to promote health equity. Some key takeaways include understanding what health is, paying for health, and starting with children. In addition, it is important to align incentives to support communities and health, have an inclusive orientation of what excellence is, and be outcomes obsessed. Lastly, it is important to listen to the voice of the patient and have an unapologetically bold determination to address issues plaguing our communities.
The panelists concluded that in order to improve health outcomes, it requires humility, understanding, a willingness to change and learn, and a focus on supporting healthy mamas and kikis. They believe that it is possible to partner with those we serve, listen deeply, and transform our practices to support everyone in living a life well lived.
Note: This is an AI generated transcript, not edited by a staff writer and is solely intended for educational purposes. If you have any questions/concerns, reach out to events@beckershealthcare.com
This panel was live on 04/05/2023 at the event listed here.
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