It’s my pleasure to share that the WSHA Health Equity Collaborative commenced last week with a virtual kick-off event attended by a diverse group of hospitals and clinics. Over 50 hospitals and ambulatory sites in Washington and Oregon have committed to fully participate in the WSHA Health Equity Collaborative, as part of the Northwest Safety & Quality Partnership. The Collaborative uses an “all teach, all learn” structure focused on implementing fundamental components of health equity. Participation requires the following:
- Take action: Commit to implementing health equity projects in three domains (Leadership/Culture, Data/Analytics, Social Determinants of Health) over an 18-month period.
- Include patient voice: Develop a strategy for including patients in the co-design and evaluation of quality improvement projects.
- Engage in collective learning: Contribute to the “all teach, all learn” model by sharing experiences, successes, and failures. Be open to feedback from others and proactively reach out for help.
WSHA and the participating hospitals and clinics believe that the Health Equity Collaborative will significantly support achieving meaningful change and eliminating health inequities. Participants look forward to the challenge of implementing new processes and approaches while leading by example for others.
Thirty-eight Washington hospitals and clinics and 13 from Oregon will be actively driving health equity improvements in their institutions and communities. We are excited that so many health care organizations will be participating in this difficult and transformative work!
If you were unable to sign up for the Collaborative but are still interested in conducting health equity work, I encourage you to complete the Health Equity Organizational Assessment to begin developing an action plan.
