The Health Equity Roadmap launched by the American Heart Association’s Institute for Diversity and Health Equity has surpassed the 1,000-member milestone in its first year. The roadmap aims to address systemic racism and promote health equity by providing a comprehensive set of strategies for healthcare organizations. In a Q&A session, the Institute’s leaders discussed the significance of this milestone and emphasized the need for community engagement in promoting health equity. The focus for the coming year will be on implementation and action to encourage healthcare organizations to take meaningful steps toward promoting health equity.
The American Heart Association’s Institute for Diversity and Health Equity (IFDHE) launched the Health Equity Roadmap in March 2022 to address the disparities in healthcare experienced by marginalized communities. Now, just one year after its launch, the Roadmap has reached a significant milestone with over 1,000 engaged participants. In a Q&A session, Joy A. Lewis, the AHA Senior Vice President for Health Equity Strategies and the Executive Director of IFDHE, along with Leon D. Caldwell, the AHA Senior Director of Health Equity Strategies, discussed the significance of this milestone and what it means for the future of the Roadmap.
The Health Equity Roadmap was created to serve as a guiding framework for hospitals and health systems to develop equitable care for all patients. The roadmap aims to address systemic racism and promote health equity by providing a comprehensive set of strategies for healthcare organizations. These strategies include developing diverse leadership teams, improving cultural competency, and addressing social determinants of health.
Since its launch, the Health Equity Roadmap has seen a steady increase in the number of engaged participants. The milestone of reaching 1,000 participants in just one year is a testament to the need for this type of framework in the healthcare industry. The participants of the Roadmap come from a diverse set of healthcare organizations, including hospitals, health systems, and community health centers.
In the Q&A session, Joy A. Lewis and Leon D. Caldwell discussed the meaning of this milestone and what it means for the future of the Roadmap. They emphasized that the success of the Roadmap is not just in the number of participants, but in the impact that it has on improving healthcare equity.
Joy A. Lewis stated, “The Health Equity Roadmap is a tool for healthcare organizations to evaluate their current practices and develop new strategies to address healthcare disparities. It provides a comprehensive framework for organizations to take action and create meaningful change.”
Leon D. Caldwell added, “The Health Equity Roadmap is a living document, and we are continuously updating it based on feedback from our participants. We want to ensure that it remains relevant and effective in addressing the disparities in healthcare.”
The Q&A session also highlighted the importance of community engagement in promoting health equity. Joy A. Lewis emphasized that healthcare organizations need to work with community leaders and members to understand their unique needs and challenges. This can help organizations develop culturally competent care and address the social determinants of health that impact marginalized communities.
Leon D. Caldwell further emphasized that the Health Equity Roadmap is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Each organization will need to adapt its strategies to its specific context and community. The Roadmap provides a starting point and a framework for organizations to develop their strategies and initiatives to promote health equity.
In addition to discussing the success of the Health Equity Roadmap, Joy A. Lewis and Leon D. Caldwell also discussed the next steps for the Roadmap and its participants. They stated that the focus for the coming year will be on implementation and action. Healthcare organizations will be encouraged to take the strategies outlined in the Roadmap and develop specific initiatives and programs to address healthcare disparities.
The Q&A session ended with a call to action for healthcare organizations to take a meaningful step towards promoting health equity. Joy A. Lewis stated, “Health equity is not just a buzzword; it is a fundamental principle of healthcare. We need to work together to ensure that every patient receives equitable care, regardless of their race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status.”
