Staff Contact: Jackie Gatz or Mat Reidhead
Health equity, and the role of social determinants of health, have moved beyond the philosophical and are getting the public’s attention. These initiatives also are increasingly being cemented into interactions in care settings and hospitals’ mission statements, with a stronger link between hospitals’ work and the health of surrounding communities.
Hospitals across Missouri are at different phases of health equity engagement. MHA, along with the Health Equity Committee of MHA, published a guide for all hospitals to advance their health equity journeys. It offers consensus-driven standard definitions of several key concepts surrounding health equity and provides case studies from leaders in Missouri. Finally, it offers guidance on measuring health disparities, systems to engage with communities on collaborative approaches to health equity promotion and the important role of anchor institutions.
