Ending Health Care Disparities

April is National Minority Health Month and a good time to focus on improving access to quality health care for diverse communities. But hospitals and health systems should always be examining how well we’re meeting the health needs of everyone in the communities we serve. Increasing awareness is critical to fostering action. For example, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently launched a useful tool for mapping existing disparities, and we are hosting a webinar with CMS on April 28 focused on health equity. Action is at the heart of the AHA’s #123forEquity Pledge to Eliminate Health Care Disparities. It is what National Urban League President and CEO Marc Morial will call for when he addresses the AHA’s Annual Meeting general session in just a few weeks. And, action is the focus of the AHA affiliate Institute for Diversity in Health Management’s conference on Accelerating Health Equity through Diversity and Inclusion in June. Hospitals are the anchor of equitable care for all individuals in every community they serve and are up to meeting this challenge.