Hospitals and health systems are working hard to improve health equity and promote value for their patients and communities. 

They are developing strategic plans to reduce disparities; standardizing collection of patients’ race, ethnicity, language, sexual orientation and gender identity data; implementing efforts to increase diversity in leadership and governance; and strengthening community partnerships to address key issues. Many organizations have made significant progress on these efforts and others are still at the beginning of their journey. 

The AHA and its Institute for Diversity and Health Equity are committed to helping hospitals and health systems on these efforts. We have developed a number of resources on these topics and are sharing best practices and strategies with the field. 

Another way we are spotlighting these efforts is through the AHA’s Equity of Care Award. It recognizes outstanding efforts by hospitals and health systems to advance equity of care to all patients and to spread lessons learned and progress toward achieving health equity. Since the award was established in 2014, five organizations have won the award and 15 organizations have been recognized as honorees. 

Macon, Ga.-based Navicent Health received last year’s award. The health system improved readmission disparities among African Americans; resolved readmission health disparities among African-American patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure and diabetes; ]reconciled health disparities among women with diabetes; and diversified its board and leadership. 

Applications for the 2019 AHA Equity of Care Award are due Feb. 19. Please consider applying for the award and sharing how your organization is improving health equity and value. 

For more on the award and additional resources on advancing diversity, inclusion and health equity, visit www.diversityconnection.org

Duane Reynolds is the president and CEO of the AHA’s Institute for Diversity and Health Equity. 

Related News Articles

Headline
The AHA’s Next Generation Leaders Fellowship July 29 announced its 36 fellows for the class of 2026, who will each work with mentors to address a specific…
Headline
AHA Chair-elect Marc Boom, M.D., president and CEO of Houston Methodist, and AHA Immediate-past Chair Joanne Conroy, M.D., president and CEO of Dartmouth…
Headline
The AHA July 14 responded to a Department of Health and Human Services request for information regarding lawful regulation and innovation to promote better…
Headline
Fairview Health Services, a Minneapolis-based nonprofit health system of 10 hospitals and medical centers serving the greater Twin Cities metro area and north-…
Headline
The Rural Hospital Excellence in Innovation Award honors rural hospitals that are leading the way in innovative, sustainable and community-centered care. If…
Headline
AHA’s Circle of Life Award celebrates innovation in palliative and end-of-life care and seeks to provide best practices and models for the field. Programs and…