Diversity, equity and inclusion

The conference of healthcare leaders in Seattle showed a bit of relief, plenty of anxiety, and no small amount of hope. Here’s a quick roundup of observations.

More women are rising the ranks, and female leaders say it’s important to encourage more women to apply for management positions.

The president and CEO of Craig Hospital in Denver talks about encouraging women in leadership roles, providing opportunities, and leading in the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Lown Institute has released its rankings of healthcare facilities, which include patient outcomes, equity and value.

Meritus Health, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and Rapid City Hospital all earned recognition for their efforts to improve care and engage communities.

Some states have passed laws to prevent children from getting such care. Meredithe McNamara of Yale talks about recent court rulings and why everyone should pay attention.

Medical colleges are disheartened by the decision. They aim to continue pursuing diversity efforts, but they said the court’s ruling could undo years of progress.

California has barred public universities from weighing race for nearly 30 years. Mark Henderson of UC-Davis School of Medicine explains how the school still made gains in diversity.

Medical schools had hoped the court would allow the consideration of race in admission decisions, but the conservative justices found it unconstitutional.

They’ve partnered to guide patients to doctors and providers offering affirming care. Dustin Nowaskie of OutCare Health talks about the need to offer better care for LGBTQ+ communities.

The New York health system has been recognized as a leader for its diversity efforts. CEO Michael Dowling says hospitals need to make diversity ‘part of your DNA.’

Women and members of minority groups endure inappropriate conduct and cyber incivility, and it’s time to transform the culture, according to the authors of a new study.

Federal figures point to a chilling rise in maternal deaths. Irogue Igbinosa of Stanford Medicine Children’s Health talks about improving equity in maternal care.

Too many in nursing deal with bias and discrimination in the course of their job. A recent survey by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation offers the latest evidence.

The organizations behind the nationwide effort include the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, Race Forward, the American Hospital Association, and more.

Rural health systems struggle to attract talent. Sunny Eappen, president and CEO of The University of Vermont Health Network, stresses the importance of building a diverse staff.

The Association of American Medical Colleges says improving diversity is critical to training doctors and improving public health.

C.K. Wang of COTA talks about the disparities in outcomes for the sexual and gender diverse population. He talks about the need for more information and improved training for clinicians.

How one full year of postpartum care impacts health equity, outcomes, and care costs.

The organization, formed by some of America’s top health systems, is providing more insights on the social determinants of health. Charlotte Baker of Truveta talks about how data can close disparities.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends women should start screenings at age 40. But some say the panel should have called for women to get mammograms every year.

Rick Evans talks with Chief Healthcare Executive about the importance of communication, giving guidance on patient encounters and improving the patient experience.

More systems are stressing the importance of employing more members from minority groups. A group of leaders outlined some ways those efforts can have lasting effects.

Even with longstanding problems, there’s more momentum to close gaps in outcomes. She talks with Chief Healthcare Executive about linking equity to business goals, getting started, and building on progress.

Kicking off a new, ongoing feature, we’re aiming to spotlight the insights of healthcare leaders. In this installment, Katie Galbraith discusses the need to get more women in leadership roles.