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Equitable Care
The American Hospital Association (AHA) recognized Navicent Health with its
prestigious 2018 AHA Equity of Care Award in July 2018. The award recognizes
hospitals and health systems for their efforts to reduce healthcare disparities and
advance diversity and inclusion to support the goals of the National Call to Action to
Eliminate Health Disparities, of which the AHA is a founder.
The AHA Equity of Care Award is testament to the work taking place at Navicent Health each
presented annually and was created day. We are grateful to provide compassionate care for all who
to recognize outstanding efforts call central and south Georgia home.”
among hospitals and healthcare
systems to advance equity of care Navicent Health’s dedication to health equity also resulted
to all patients, and to spread lessons in the development of a cultural competency and engagement
learned and progress toward achieving program in 2017, which supported patients, employees,
health equity. Applicants from across associates, physicians, vendors and other partners. In
the country showcased measurable addition, the Navicent Health Board follows a competency-
improvement in the performance of based performance guide in recruitment, selection and re-
equity, diversity and inclusion within the appointment of board members. Each year, Navicent Health
hospital, health system or community and uses an assessment to identify gaps and opportunities
provided clear models for the field. in talent and diversity on the board. Since implementing
this tool, diverse board membership and board committee
Since committing to AHA’s Equity leadership increased to 35.3% and 41.6%, respectively, in 2018.
123 pledge in 2015, Navicent Health
has taken measurable steps to improve Navicent Health is also committed to conducting a
diversity, inclusion and health equity and Community Health Needs Assessment, which identifies health
has demonstrated comprehensive gains disparities in its service area, every three years. One of the
in addressing the health disparities in the focus areas from the 2015 survey was access to care due to the
community it serves. During fiscal year 2014– limited number of physicians working with Medicare, Medicaid
2015, Navicent Health made a commitment to and vulnerable populations. Navicent Health addressed this
document health outcomes by evaluating race, challenge by giving initial funding to assist Macon-Bibb
ethnicity and language (REaL) preference data County’s Federally Qualified Health Center in expanding into
collected at the time of admission in patients with new areas of Bibb County, augmenting gaps in services to other
certain conditions. clinics and developing new access points through community
partnerships with government, civic, recreational and
As a result, programs were created to help educational establishments, and religious organizations.
influence social determinants of health and improve
condition-specific access to clinics for diabetes, AHA also recognized Atrium Health, Charlotte, North
heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary Carolina; Rush University Medical Center, Chicago;
disease (COPD). Since then, Navicent Health has Regional Health, Rapid City, South Dakota; and Cone Health,
resolved readmission health disparities among African Greensboro, North Carolina, as award honorees.
American patients with COPD, heart failure and
diabetes, as well as health disparities among females “Every day, hospitals and health systems strive to be
with diabetes. In addition, it is improving the overall leaders, innovators and connectors in their communities,
readmission disparity among African Americans. within their leadership and staff, and across the field,” says
AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack. “This year’s Equity of
“We are thrilled at all that our Healthy Communities Care winner and honorees are pushing the field forward in
program has accomplished in such a brief time frame,” diversity, inclusion and health equity. They have demonstrated
says Dr. Ninfa M. Saunders, FACHE, President and CEO that hospitals and health systems are committed to
of Navicent Health. “We are taking measurable steps to understanding the social determinants of health within their
improve the health of individuals, minimizing disparities communities and are on the front lines of bridging the gaps of
and ensuring equity for all. Recognition from AHA is a equity within the field.”
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