Significant disparities in life expectancy and overall health outcomes persist across the United States. Healthcare plays a crucial role in achieving health equity. While healthcare organizations cannot single-handedly solve all societal determinants of health, they are empowered to directly address disparities at the point of care and influence many factors contributing to these inequalities.
The IHI Framework for Achieving Health Equity provides a robust guide, encompassing five key components:
- Prioritizing health equity as a strategic imperative.
- Establishing structures and processes to effectively support health equity initiatives.
- Implementing targeted strategies to address the diverse determinants of health that healthcare organizations can directly impact.
- Actively working to reduce institutional racism within the organizational structure.
- Building strong partnerships with community organizations to collectively advance health and equity.
This guide offers valuable insights into how healthcare organizations can effectively reduce health disparities related to various factors. These include racial or ethnic group; religion; socioeconomic status; gender identity; age; mental health conditions; cognitive, sensory, or physical disabilities; sexual orientation; geographic location; and other characteristics historically linked to discrimination or exclusion.
This white paper serves as an essential guide for healthcare professionals and organizations dedicated to improving health equity.
How to Cite This Paper: Wyatt R, Laderman M, Botwinick L, Mate K, Whittington J. Achieving Health Equity: A Guide for Health Care Organizations. IHI White Paper. Cambridge, MA: Institute for Healthcare Improvement; 2016. (Available at ihi.org)
