Diversity and Inclusion: Delivering care to diverse populations

An eye toward Health Equity means transforming the care we deliver with a goal of closing gaps in care, as well as disparities in outcomes. This results in a fair and just opportunity for all patients to reach their highest level of health. Health Equity also challenges us to make our approach to care culturally effective and linguistically appropriate, eliminating unconscious bias and improving cultural competence. 

Here are just a few examples of steps that Children’s Health℠ has taken to make the patient experience more inclusive.

Language and interpreter services

Our Language Interpreter Services has team members on staff, providing in-person assistance well as phone and video remote interpreters for patients and families whose primary language is not English.

Pastoral and spiritual care

Naturally, when a child faces medical challenges, family and friends may turn to their faith for comfort. At Children’s Health, we respect that, and we want those patients and families of all religions and faith traditions. 

Family advisory network (FAN)

Feedback is important - it allows us to make our patient experience more inclusive. One crucial source of feedback is our Family Advisory Network or FAN, which helps ensure that current and former patients and families feel heard. This collaborative network provides unique perspectives and experiences, allowing us to improve care and overall experiences. 

School-Based Telehealth

Through this program, we connect hundreds of school nurses and their students with providers in order to care for sick children while they are in school. These schools are located in diverse communities - urban and rural, spanning socioeconomic status - but the care experience the patient receives is the same.

Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM)

The Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) program helps children with complex medical needs to reduce the number of trips they have to make to the hospital for follow-up visits. For a family that has to travel hundreds of miles to reach our specialists, this type of access can be life-altering.

“Health Equity is not about giving everyone the same thing to be healthy. It’s about working to ensure everyone has an opportunity to be as healthy as possible. We must meet our patients and their families where they are to make that happen.”

Dr. Stormee Williams

Vice President and Medical Director Network Development and Innovation at Children's Health