DEI in Action: How Top Health Systems Are Overcoming Disparities and Building Inclusive Care Models

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted health disparities in the U.S., which disproportionately affected vulnerable and underserved communities. In response to this and the nationwide call for racial and social justice after the murder of George Floyd, healthcare organizations stepped up to develop innovative ways to implement diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

Sheryl Garland, executive director of VCU Office of Health Equity

The path forward hasn’t been easy, but organizations are staying the course. USA Today reported in July that “the ‘anti-woke’ backlash has unnerved business leaders, but companies are not backtracking on their commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion.”

This article will present examples of DEI in action through three award-winning entries in the Best Digital Leadership in Health Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion category from the 2023 eHealthcare Leadership Awards.

In the second half of the article, with the help of Sheryl Garland, executive director for the VCU Office of Health Equity, we clarify definitions, arrive at a common vernacular, and understand the significance of DEI efforts in healthcare today.

Garland notes, “Hospitals and health systems serve a diverse array of patients. DEI initiatives enhance an organization’s culture and support the education of team members to help improve the services to patients, families, and communities.”

Read the full article to gain fresh approaches for your initiatives: Bringing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to Life in Today’s Healthcare Environment

Best regards,
Matt Humphrey
President