Health equity leaders recognize the critical role of change management in executing system health equity priorities. This discussion identifies effective, sustainable strategies to achieve impactful systemwide change. Through the establishment of a strategic governance structure and the broad delegation of accountability, health equity leaders from M. Health Fairview and Yale New Haven Health identify the strategies and key stakeholders needed to create sustainable change in integrating health equity into system infrastructure.
Key Takeaways
Sustainable Impact Depends on Aligning Organizational Expectations: Often, health equity teams are tasked with executing all equity-related tasks and activities with minimal staff and resources. Best practice shows that the health equity team should function as a backbone for the organization, supporting teams to execute on the health system's equity goals.
Establishing Key Change-Making Roles Promotes Progress: With defined roles, leaders can spread accountability for health equity system-wide, while avoiding common pitfalls. Yale New Haven Health shares the roles and responsibilities associated with their health equity strategy.
Integration of Health Equity into System-wide Operations is Key: Centering equity considerations into existing system-wide policies, processes, and procedures ensures the prioritization of inequity mitigation. M Health Fairview shares its approach to embedding equity within its enterprise project management office.