Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) have become a key focus for healthcare organizations and leaders. Increasing socioeconomic challenges, along with persistent health disparities across the social gradient, have prompted healthcare practitioners, leaders, and researchers to explore how the healthcare system can help ensure that everyone has the opportunity to achieve good health.
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion can be defined as (Source):
Equity: Where everyone is treated according to their diverse needs in a way that enables all people to participate, perform, and engage to the same extent.
Health Equity: Removing institutional and discriminatory barriers that lead to health inequities and inequality. This includes factors within the healthcare system, such as racism and sexism, as well as factors outside the healthcare system, such as poverty and unequal distribution of resources.
Diversity: The variety of unique dimensions, qualities, and characteristics we all possess, and the mix that occurs in any group of people. Race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, economic status, physical abilities, life experiences, and other perspectives can make up individual diversity. In the medical community, diversity often refers to the inclusion of healthcare professionals, trainees, educators, researchers, and patients of varied race, ethnicity, gender, disability, social class, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, primary spoken language, and geographic region.
Inclusion: Creating a culture that embraces, respects, accepts, and values diversity. It is a mindful and equitable effort to meet individual needs so everyone feels valued, respected, and able to contribute to their fullest potential. Where diversity occurs naturally, creating the mix in the organization, inclusion is the choice that helps the mix work well together.
Inclusion means giving associates and patients from all backgrounds a voice in providing and receiving high-quality care. This act starts with encouraging a diverse healthcare staff to participate in the patient experience.
LTHC Consultants collaborated with a primary care organization to advance Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) through the following initiatives:
- – Established an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion committee with a Terms of Reference to guide its activities.
- – Developed a Health Equity survey to collect sociodemographic data from patients.
- – Integrated EDI into the organization’s renewed strategic plan.
- – Created and implemented a Safer Spaces checklist to ensure a welcoming and supportive environment for members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community looking to access care.
- – Launched organizational initiatives to recognize cultural observances, celebrate diversity, and provide educational opportunities to staff (e.g., Black History Month, Truth & Reconciliation Week, Eid, etc.).
