Meritus Health’s Leadership in Diversity and Equity Council has taken a significant step towards addressing health disparities in Maryland with its inaugural Health Equity Summit, “Building Quality Care in our Communities.” The event, held on October 23, 2024, brought together approximately 100 healthcare providers from across the state to focus on tackling health inequities, promoting workforce diversity, and providing culturally responsive care.
The summit, part of a broader initiative by Meritus Health, aims to foster collaborative learning among diverse professionals and guide future efforts to create a society where everyone can lead a healthy life. Key objectives included driving systemic change for diversity, equity, and inclusion in healthcare, exploring strategies to address health disparities, and building a cohesive community to tackle these issues.
Dr. Chante Richardson, associate dean of health equity, diversity and inclusion at the upcoming Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine, emphasized the critical role of high-quality and equitable healthcare in achieving health equity. She stated, “It is crucial for healthcare providers to address systemic, avoidable, predictable, and unjust differences in access, treatment, and outcomes among individuals and populations.”
The initiative reflects Meritus Health’s commitment to its Anchor Mission, launched in 2017. Since then, the health system has made significant strides, including loaning $6 million for social impact projects, hiring 1,200 West Side residents at an average wage of $30 per hour, and spending $25 million on local vendors.
This comprehensive approach to health equity extends beyond traditional healthcare, addressing social determinants of health such as employment, education, and housing. Meritus Health has also partnered with other hospitals and community organizations to form West Side United, a collaborative effort to improve community health outcomes.
As Meritus Health continues its efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in healthcare, this summit marks a significant milestone in their ongoing commitment to reducing health disparities and improving health outcomes for all communities in Maryland.
See “Maryland organizations unite to tackle health disparities” (October 25, 2024)