UChicago Medicine AdventHealth is actively addressing racial health disparities, particularly among Black Americans who face a 40% higher mortality rate from breast cancer compared to non-Hispanic White Americans.
This initiative, led by UChicago Medicine AdventHealth and its four Chicago-area hospitals, involves comprehensive community health needs assessments. These assessments, conducted through resident surveys, focus groups, and census data, aim to tailor community health plans to better serve uninsured and underinsured individuals.
Fabiola Zavala, the regional director of community health, emphasizes the importance of a data-driven approach to identify critical needs. In response, UChicago Medicine AdventHealth GlenOaks and LaGrange hospitals have established free medical mission clinics to provide screenings and manage chronic diseases for those who cannot afford healthcare.
Additionally, recognizing the mental health stigma in Black and Hispanic/Latino communities, the organization has partnered with the National Alliance for Mental Illness to offer Mental Health First Aid training to faith leaders, empowering them to support their communities more effectively.
The initiative also focuses on managing chronic diseases outside the hospital by partnering with community organizations to ensure patients have the necessary resources to manage conditions like diabetes, reducing rehospitalization chances.
Community health workers are hired to support inpatients by addressing social determinants of health before discharge, aiming to improve long-term health outcomes. Through these strategic initiatives, UChicago Medicine AdventHealth continues to work towards achieving equitable health outcomes for all demographics in their community.