The HHC Center for Health Equity was established in 2023 and is led by Sarah Lewis, who joined HHC as Vice President for Health Equity in 2019, and HHC Chief Clinical Integration Officer Dr. James Cardon.
The center is organized around an understanding of the factors that enhance equity and allow us to measure meaningful progress:
- Gathering and sharing health equity data to better identify trends and issues we can more effectively act on to eliminate healthcare inequities.
- Ensuring that learning and development opportunities to engage colleagues in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) initiatives are widely available, promoted and utilized.
- Using research, data-driven best practices, and patient voice to strengthen our delivery of equitable, patient-centered care.
- Achieving greater social impact through community outreach, partnerships, and continued growth in supplier diversity.
- Providing demonstrable community benefits that improve the overall health of our communities by addressing social determinants of health, as well as advancing opportunities for healthcare careers, and providing free and subsidized health services to those in need.
The center will measure success by the following outcomes:
- Create an equitable experience for our patients, our colleagues, and our community members.
- Meet and exceed regulatory expectations for equitable care and outcomes.
- Drive measurable improvements in patient outcomes, research, workforce engagement, community improvement, inclusive leadership.
- Cultivate, grow, and retain a workforce that represents the patients and communities we serve.
- Fulfill our role as an anchor institution, meaningfully rooted in towns and cities across the region.