health equity

Health Equity It's at the heart of what we do.

KHC is committed to centering our work, partnerships and programs in health equity. Health Equity is at the heart of the work we do and the work we hope to do in the future.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) provides the following definition: “Health equity means that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible. This requires removing obstacles to health such as poverty, discrimination, and their consequences, including powerlessness and lack of access to good jobs with fair pay, quality education and housing, safe environments, and health care."

The CDC defines health disparities as "preventable differences in the burden of disease, injury, violence or opportunities to achieve optimal health that are experienced by populations that have been disadvantaged by their social or economic status, geographic location and environment".

Across the country, people in some racial and ethnic minority groups experience higher rates of poor health and disease for a range of health conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, obesity, asthma, heart disease, cancer and preterm birth, when compared to their White counterparts. For example, the average life expectancy among Black or African American people in the United States is four years lower than that of White people. These disparities sometimes persist even when accounting for other demographic and socioeconomic factors, such as age or income.

Communities can prevent health disparities when community- and faith-based organizations, employers, health care systems and providers, public health agencies and policymakers work together to develop policies, programs and systems based on a health equity framework and community needs.

Social Determinants of Health or Social Drivers of Health (SDOH) are the conditions in the places where people live, learn, work, play and worship that affect a wide range of health risks and outcomes. Long-standing inequities in six key areas of SDOH are interrelated and influence a wide range of health and quality-of-life risks and outcomes. Examining these layered health and social inequities can help us better understand how to promote health equity and improve health outcomes.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services requires all hospitals to comply with reporting on health equity commitment and SDOH screenings. To help hospitals educate team members and their boards, the Kansas Healthcare Collaborative and Kansas Hospital Association have developed a regulatory requirements fact sheet outlining these requirements. Additional health equity and SDOH resources may be found on the KHA website.

Download KHA KHC "Regulatory Requirements related to Health Equity and Social Determinants of Health"

KHC has offered a number of educational events related to health equity. Visit the Health Equity/Disparities Topic Section of KHC's Education Archive for event recordings and resources related to health equity and SDOH.

KHC and KFMC Health Improvement Partners have a unique partnership that focuses on providing health care professionals, organizations and communities with the knowledge, tools and inspiration they need to address health disparities and foster equitable health care solutions through education, trainings and resources. KFMC’s website hosts a Health Equity Resource Hub developed by multiple Kansas health equity stakeholders providing resources and guidance.

KFMC hosts the annual Kansas Health Equity Summit held each fall. KHC is proud to partner with and participate in the Kansas Health Equity Summit, convening a diverse gathering of health care professionals, policymakers, community leaders, advocates and individuals, all committed to advancing health equity on at both the local and state level.

Other Helpful Health Equity Resources

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Advancing Health Equity in Rural America Report

Exploring Strategies to Improve Health and Equity in Rural Communities Report

National Rural Health Resource Center Health Equity Toolkit

RHIhub Health Equity Toolkit

In April 2017, church elders from the nearby Amish community met with two physicians and a social worker from Nemaha Valley Community Hospital (NVCH) to discuss concerns about recent poor birth outcomes in both mothers and babies in the local Amish community.  A meeting between physicians and church elders to solve health care issues is not the norm in healthcare, but in this case, was the most logical and culturally appropriate means to address an issue, which was vital to both the Amish community and the hospital.