Despite continued analysis demonstrating unequal outcomes, and an abundance of reports and resources available, disparate health outcomes are worsening for some populations and clinical conditions.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation provides the following definition: “Health equity means that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible. This requires removing obstacles to health such as poverty, discrimination, and their consequences, including powerlessness and lack of access to good jobs with fair pay, quality education and housing, safe environments, and health care.”

MHA Resources

Health Equity Webinar Series

Despite continued analysis demonstrating unequal outcomes, and an abundance of reports and resources available, disparate health outcomes are worsening for some populations and clinical conditions. In 2016, MHA pledged to address health equity with a one-year campaign through the American Hospital Association and the Institute for Diversity. MHA analyzed statewide quality outcomes by race, ethnicity and language preference to determine if a health care disparity exists, and if so, implement a plan to address the gap. These activities provide the opportunity to demonstrate the commitment to health equity and population health by Missouri hospitals, thereby increasing the value of hospitals to Missouri communities.

listen to the series

Tools and Resources

• The Joint Commission Health Equity web page
  • TJCs Roadmap for Hospitals
• American Hospital Association Equity of Care website
  • A Toolkit for Eliminating Health Care Disparities
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health website
  • National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health and Health Care
  • National CLAS Standards: Fact Sheet