True equity is required in all business sectors in order to ensure each team member is fairly and impartially treated.
The health industry is increasingly recognising the importance of equity, and is implementing a variety of strategies to address disparities and ensure that all individuals have access to high-quality care.
With the importance of physical and mental initiatives in modern EDI, studying the initiatives taken by the global health industry can be a brilliant insight into ideas you can explore within your own organisation.
As a leading EDI consultancy, Champions (UK) plc and I will look at some of the key approaches and how they can be implemented effectively into your business within this blog.
Chiltern Hospital: A Case Study
For many years I have worked within the health industry as a speaker and as an ambassador for equality and inclusion. My angle has been about internal culture, motivation, communication and internal support networks.
A great example of this would be Circle Health Group's Chiltern Hospital, a private hospital that is actively engaged in promoting equity within the healthcare industry through a variety of initiatives and practices. Here are some key efforts:
1. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (EDI) Programmes: Chiltern Hospital has shown real influence and a great example of the importance of EDI in its operations. It created dedicated programmes aimed at nurturing a diverse and inclusive working environment for members of staff. These programmes are designed to ensure equal opportunities for all employees regardless of their background, and to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. This was very well presented when I have visited the hospital and seen these efforts firsthand.
2. Patient-Centred Care: As a private hospital, Chiltern Hospital understands the importance of inclusion when it comes to patients as well as staff, and hence places a strong emphasis on patient-centred care, ensuring that all patients receive high-quality, personalised treatment regardless of their socio-economic status. It offers flexible payment options and private medical insurance plans to make healthcare more accessible and affordable. This approach has played a key role in the mission to reduce barriers to care and supports equity in health access across a diverse community.
3. Community Engagement and Feedback: To really understand what you need to do for EDI, you should have an understanding of what you have already done well and not so well. The hospital regularly collects and reviews patient feedback to continuously improve its services. This ongoing engagement with patients helps to identify and address any disparities in care and ensures that all patients have a voice in their healthcare experience. This means that patients feel heard and valued.
These are only three examples where Chiltern Hospital’s efforts demonstrate a strong commitment to prioritising equity in healthcare, ensuring that all patients receive the attention they need, irrespective of their background or financial status. The staff are regularly invested in and supported as well as credited. This all contributes to some of the work the hospital is doing to show a strong example and representation of how to make a positive difference.
General Methods to Champion and Enhance EDI
Policy and Advocacy
Governments and health organisations are enacting policies that mandate equitable healthcare practices. This includes anti-discrimination laws, policies to reduce healthcare disparities, and guidelines promoting diversity in clinical trials.
Healthcare organisations are also increasing funding for research and programmes aimed at reducing health disparities, such as the NIH’s initiative to improve minority health and eliminate health disparities.
Healthcare Delivery
These organisations have began implementing initiatives which target underserved communities to provide primary care, preventive services, and health education. Examples of this include mobile clinics and community health workers.
The industry has also seen benefits in training healthcare providers in cultural competence to better understand and address the needs of diverse patient populations. It has also expanded telehealth services to increase access for remote and underserved populations, particularly highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Education and Workforce Development
Efforts to recruit and retain a diverse healthcare workforce have been implemented to better reflect the population it serves. This includes scholarships, mentorship programmes, and pipeline programmes for underrepresented groups, as well as utilising modernised hiring practices.
Integrating equity and social determinants of health into medical and nursing school curricula have also better prepared future healthcare providers to address health disparities.
EDI consultancies such as ourselves help organisations deliver in this area, filling gaps in equity expertise where necessary. Find out more here.
Research and Data Collection
To ensure that clinical trials and health research include diverse populations, inclusive research techniques have been brought in to aid understanding of how treatments affect different groups. The industry has also began conducting studies focused on identifying and addressing health disparities, such as the impact of socio-economic status, race, and ethnicity on health outcomes.
As with all organisations in all industries, collecting and reporting data is paramount. Analysis on health outcomes by race, ethnicity, gender, and other factors help professionals identify disparities and measure progress.
Technology and Innovation
Health Informatics and utilising data analytics also help identify and address health disparities. This includes using electronic health records (EHRs) to track and improve care for underserved populations.
Developing apps and digital tools that provide health education, disease management support, and health monitoring for diverse populations is another modernised way of efficiently serving populations that the healthcare industry provides for.
To access industry-leading EDI guidance and consultancy services, get in touch at 08453 31 30 31 or fill in an online contact form today.