In December 2016, leaders from 40 health systems gathered in Washington, DC to explore the potential to more fully harness their economic power to inclusively and sustainably benefit the long-term well-being of American communities. This report summarizes the events of the convening and presents the health systems’ collective vision of the Healthcare Anchor Network. It […]
Continue ReadingCan Hospitals Heal America’s Communities?
Healthcare’s role in creating healthy communities through increasing access to quality care, research, and grantmaking is being complemented by a higher impact approach; hospitals and integrated health systems are increasingly stepping outside of their walls to address the social, economic, and environmental conditions that contribute to poor health outcomes, shortened lives, and higher costs in the first place. Can hospitals and health systems heal America’s communities?
Continue ReadingEmbracing an Anchor Mission
Written by Randy Oostra, CEO of ProMedica, with the support of David Zuckerman and Katie Parker from The Democracy Collaborative, this report offers an in-depth look at how ProMedica—a member of the Healthcare Anchor Network —aligned its institutional operations and clinical practice to better tackle the social determinants of health. From an innovative hospital-owned grocery store in a food desert to investments in preserving affordable housing, this playbook details the Toledo, Ohio-based health system’s decade-long journey to understand how their resources could be used for the wellbeing of the communities they serve.
Continue ReadingThe Anchor Mission Playbook
Written by Rush University Medical Center, with support from Chicago Anchors for a Strong Economy, the Civic Consulting Alliance, and The Democracy Collaborative, this playbook offers recommendations drawn from research carried out to help Rush University Medical Center align around its Anchor Mission. These findings are intended to help other hospitals and health systems accelerate their own efforts to drive institutional alignment with community needs.
Continue ReadingPlace-based Investing Toolkit
This toolkit outlines place-based investing strategies that allow health systems to earn a financial return on their investments while producing a positive social, economic, or environmental impact within their geographical service areas.
Continue ReadingImpact Purchasing Toolkit
This toolkit showcases examples of how hospitals and health systems are supporting diverse and locally owned vendors and helping to incubate new community enterprises to fill supply chain gaps and drive local economic growth in their communities.
Continue ReadingImpact Workforce Toolkit
This toolkit offers a guide for how to leverage hiring practices to advance inclusive, local job creation and career development for communities experiencing the greatest health and wealth disparities.
Continue ReadingAdventHealth
AdventHealth, headquartered in Altamonte Springs, Florida, operates healthcare facilities in 9 different states across the United States and employs roughly 77,000 people.
Continue ReadingNew York Times highlights anchor mission strategies
A major feature online this week and in print this past Sunday in the New York Times highlights the work of the Democracy Collaborative to enlist healthcare anchor institutions—and their considerable institutional resources—as key drivers of community wealth building.
Continue Reading