The COVID-19 crisis and nationwide uprisings against police violence have magnified the connection between systemic racism, social and economic inequities and poor health outcomes. How can anchor institutions meet this moment to address the physical, economic, and social impacts of the pandemic and begin to repair the harm caused by systemic racism in communities? This webinar on August 6 will share how Kaiser Permanente is leveraging its assets to rebuild local economies, address social needs, and advance racial equity.
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Healthcare anchors address racism as a public health crisis
Healthcare Anchor Network members Advocate Aurora Health, AMITA Health, Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, and Rush University Medical Center were co-signers to a pivotal and ground-breaking joint statement published in Chicago newspapers declaring systemic racism a public health crisis. The signatory institutions are a part of the City of Chicago’s Racial Equity Rapid Response Team.
Continue ReadingNurses promote community transformation for well-being
This opinion piece co-authored by Weston Consulting CEO Marla J. Weston, PhD, RN, (formerly the CEO of the American Nurses Association Enterprise), Healthcare Anchor Network manager for communications and policy Bich Ha Pham, and HAN director David Zuckerman in the Nursing Administration Quarterly aims to further engage nurses as anchor mission leaders. The article describes how anchor mission hospitals and health systems are leveraging local and inclusive hiring and purchasing, and impact investing to transform the economic and consequent health and well-being of socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals and neighborhoods.
Continue ReadingAnchor institutions impacting national policy on racial and health equity
Dr. Thomas Dean Sequist, Chief Patient Experience and Equity Officer at Healthcare Anchor Network member Mass General Brigham, testified at the U.S. House of Representative’s hearing on the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on communities of color. He spoke about about the impact the pandemic has had in Chelsea, MA, as well as on the Navajo reservation in Shiprock, New Mexico.
Continue ReadingHAN collaborating with Modern Healthcare for the Social Determinants of Health Symposium
The Healthcare Anchor Network (HAN) is a promotional sponsor of the Modern Healthcare virtual Social Determinants of Health Symposium on June 2, 2020 with HAN member Intermountain Health as the lead sponsor. With COVID-19, our nation has a glimpse into how deep health disparities run. The SDOH Symposium will cover actionable takeaways for addressing health disparities and solutions to ensure health equity.
Continue ReadingVideo: The Anchor Learning Network
The Democracy Collaborative and the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities co-coordinate the Anchor Learning Network, which is designed to facilitate a more rapid and effective advancement of the anchor mission within its member institutions, in their home communities, and across the higher education sector. In this video, members of the Anchor Learning Network share why the anchor mission matters to their urban and metropolitan campuses.
Continue ReadingSome cities have re-localized industry in response to COVID19
COVID-19 has revealed that outsourcing medical equipment supply chains to other countries can lead to significant shortages. As a result, hospitals and health systems are looking to local vendors for PPEs and other needed supplies. For example, HAN member Trinity Health contracted with a local woman-owned and -led company, Detroit Sewn, to produce 50,000 masks for the pandemic, leading to 13 new expected hires.
Continue ReadingHAN members addressing health disparities, social determinants of health & anchor mission goals during COVID-19
Long-standing racial and income disparities are being illuminated in this pandemic, with disparate impacts on people of color, immigrants, and those without access to healthcare. Nationally, Black Americans are dying of COVID-19 at a rate of more than twice their population share (black individuals represent 13% of the population in states releasing data, but 28% […]
Continue ReadingKaiser Permanente pledges $1M to treat homeless for COVID-19
Healthcare Anchor Network member Kaiser Permanente is supporting National Health Care for the Homeless Council as a community intermediary to fund at least four housing activist groups in California, Seattle and Portland, Oregon, areas hard hit by COVID-19, having nearly half of all coronavirus cases in the nation. Kaiser Permanente’s $1 million will help prevent and treat COVID-19 cases for homeless individuals. The health system wants to tap into and support the capacity of infrastructures that already exist, including those with national reach, in order to most effectively and efficiently meet community needs.
Continue ReadingAnchor procurement to build community wealth by supporting local, minority, women, and worker-owned businesses
Healthcare Anchor Network (HAN) members Advocate Health Care, AMITA Health, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, and Rush University Medical Center, along with the City of Chicago, other anchor institutions and companies, are members of Chicago Anchors for a Strong Economy (CASE). CASE aims to generate inclusive economic growth through anchor procurement.
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