Disparities/Equity of Care
The need to improve maternal and child health equity in America while reducing access disparities has become a national focus. As policymakers and provider organizations continue to seek ways to reverse these trends, hospitals and health systems are stepping up with innovative efforts.
Though recognizing implicit bias is important, hospitals must have an action plan to address it.
This week is Black Maternal Health Week, and April is National Minority Health Month. It鈥檚 an opportunity to 鈥渄eepen the conversation鈥 about black maternal health in the U.S. and to highlight the 鈥渋mportant role individuals and organizations can play鈥 in helping to reduce health disparities and鈥
According to latest data from the CDC, the U.S. maternal mortality rate, already significantly higher than in comparable countries, continues to rise, specifically for women of color.
Now is the time to evaluate how far we have come in closing gaps in health disparities, assess where health care is on the equity journey and take what we鈥檝e learned to strengthen our organizations and communities through collaborative and innovative work 鈥 by investing in our neighborhoods and one鈥
The Health Equity Roadmap, which builds on the goals established by the National Call to Action to Eliminate Health Care Disparities and AHA鈥檚 #123forEquity Pledge, is designed to meet hospitals and health systems where they are on their equity journey. It includes customized resources and action鈥
The AHA today announced the launch of the Health Equity Roadmap (equity.aha.org), a framework to support hospitals and health systems in their efforts to become more equitable organizations and dismantle structural barriers to health.
AHA and its Institute for Diversity and Health Equity encourage organizational health equity, diversity and inclusion leaders to complete the survey.
The AHA is providing early financing for a female-led venture capital firm focused on improving health outcomes for women.
In AHA鈥檚 newest Advancing Health podcast, recorded for International Women鈥檚 Day and Women鈥檚 History Month, Priya Bathija, AHA鈥檚 vice president of strategic initiatives, talks to journalist and author Anushay Hossain about the health care experience of women, particularly women of color.