Equity Means Everybody
Health equity has long been a principle of quality health care. But health equity has faced resistance in 2024, including at the ballot box. What does that mean for health equity in 2025 and beyond? An expert panel discussion at the NCQA Health Innovation Summit in November 2024 provides predictions and advice.
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About The Guests
Tosan O. Boyo is President of the East Bay Market at Sutter Health. He leads six hospitals, 15 ambulatory centers, four surgery centers and 9,000 staff and physicians who care for 500,000 patients across Alameda, Contra Costa and Solano Counties. Tosan is an elected Board Member for the Institute of Healthcare Improvement, serving as Governance Chair.
Dr. Bryan O. Buckley is the Head of Public Health at CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, where he leads CareFirst’s strategy for advancing and achieving better health outcomes for the people and communities in Maryland, the District of Columbia and Northern Virginia. Dr. Buckley also serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Georgetown University School of Medicine.
Camille Burnett, PhD, MPA, APHN-BC, BScN, RN, DSW, FAAN, CGNC, is Vice President of Health Equity at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI). She has extensive health care experience within the US and Canada in public health and health equity, research and administration. At IHI, Dr. Burnett oversees the US Equity portfolio that includes large-scale and place-based national and local equity initiatives spanning the health care ecosystem.
Daniel E. Dawes is a widely respected health care and public health leader, health policy expert, educator and researcher who serves as Senior Vice President of Global Health and Founding Dean of the School of Global Health at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. Previously, he served as Vice President, Executive Director of the Satcher Health Leadership Institute, and Professor of health law, policy and management at Morehouse School of Medicine.
Dr. LaShawn McIver is a public health leader with 20+ years of experience driving successful health initiatives and public policy efforts aimed at promoting health equity, improving health outcomes, increasing access to quality care and promoting health system reform. She serves as a thought leader for AHIP’s health equity programs and provides strategic leadership to drive a Health Equity Strategic Roadmap for AHIP as a member-driven association.
Episode Description
We’ve talked about health equity quite a bit in a past five years, but then I don’t want health systems to start losing the thread as to, “Oh, we talk about it, therefore it’s happening.”
What we’re doing is fundamentally about morbidity and mortality. Our work is to ensure that no population is dying or getting sicker than the other. We want to make sure no one is dying or getting sicker at a higher rate than anywhere else.
Timestamps
01:01: Defining Health Equity
04:09: The Distinction Between DEI and Health Equity
06:10: The Connection to Digital Measurement
07:38: Historical Perspective
09:30: From Activity to Productivity
10:54: Equity’s Enduring Connection to Quality