HAN member UMass Memorial Health’s Douglas Brown shares how the health system is leveraging economic power to address economic and racial inequities to improve community health, which included anchor mission goals being incorporated in its affiliation agreement with Harrington Hospital.
From the article:
The answer lies in the different conditions of life in these two neighborhoods. In one, a quarter of households do not own a vehicle, almost one-third lack a high school degree, and over 60 percent are on Medicaid. In the other, virtually every household owns a vehicle, 95 percent of residents have a high school degree, and less than 10 percent are on Medicaid. . . .
Enter our anchor mission. By targeting our investments, hiring, and purchasing practices, we can create more jobs, more and better housing, grow businesses, and stimulate development. This will give individuals greater control over their lives and lead to better health.