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Thirty-Nine Health Systems Have Committed to Addressing
Racism and Public Health Disparities
Special to The Truth
Health institutions
employing over half-million employees across 45 states and
Washington, DC have committed to take action to address the
impact of structural racism in their communities. The
Healthcare Anchor Network, a national collaboration of
leading healthcare systems, published the “Racism is a
Public Health Crisis” statement which 39 health systems
signed on to.
Moved by the unconscionable,
unjust deaths of George Floyd, Rayshard Brooks, Ahmaud
Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and too many others, these health
systems stand together with all those who have lifted their
voices in protest with a call to action.
For these health systems,
taking action to overcome systemic racism and the healthcare
disparities in the communities they serve includes hiring
from, procuring from, and investing in their local
communities. It also means tracking their progress in these
efforts, and actively engaging and listening to patients and
colleagues of color, modifying behaviors where needed, and
learning from their experiences.
“Racism is a public health
crisis. In Black and Indigenous communities and communities
of color we see higher rates of illness and death as a
result of systemic racism. We need to harness our collective
strength to invest in our communities and to more
intentionally hire and buy from local BIPOC communities so
that all people can be healthy and thrive,” said Healthcare
Anchor Network Director David Zuckerman. “We all must better
understand and act to change the impacts of systemic racism
on social and economic conditions and health outcomes,”
added Zuckerman.
Investment in Black and
Indigenous communities and communities of color is critical
to overcoming health disparities. Inside the hospital, these
systems also commit to implementing policy changes that
promote equity and opportunity; improving primary and
specialty care; helping their communities overcome chronic
diseases; advocating for investments in improvements to
health access, quality, and outcomes; promoting and
retaining leaders of color; providing anti-racism and
implicit bias training for all staff and administrators; and
advocating for funding for programming for social needs,
social services, and social justice.
From the statement: “Our
society only truly thrives when everyone has an opportunity
to succeed and live a healthy life. We are committed to
moving forward together. By harnessing the collective
strengths of our organizations, we will help serve our
communities as agents of change.”
The healthcare systems that
have signed onto this statement are: Advocate Aurora Health,
Alameda Health System, AMITA Health, Baystate Health, BJC
HealthCare, Bon Secours Mercy Health, Boston Children's
Hospital, Boston Medical Center, Children's Hospital of
Philadelphia, ChristianaCare, Cleveland Clinic, CommonSpirit
Health, Cone Health, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health, Denver
Health, Einstein Healthcare Network, Franciscan Missionaries
Of Our Lady Health System, Gundersen Health System, Kaiser
Permanente, Lurie Children's, M Health Fairview, Maimonides
Medical Center, Mass General Brigham, Northwell Health,
ProMedica, Providence St. Joseph Health, Rush University
Medical Center, RWJBarnabas Health, San Mateo County Health,
Seattle Children's, Spectrum Health, The MetroHealth System,
Trinity Health, UC San Francisco, UMass Memorial Health,
University Hospitals, University of Utah Health, VCU Health,
and Yale New Haven Health.
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