Dr. Alric Simmonds is the chief equity officer at AdventHealth. [Courtesy of AdventHealth]
In the U.S., Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women, and their breast cancer mortality rate is 40% higher.
Sadly, these startling statistics are just two examples of a long list of alarming health disparities in our country. Many population groups experience inferior health outcomes and higher disease incidences across a range of health conditions that extend beyond breast cancer and maternal health, including diabetes, hypertension, asthma, obesity, heart disease and cancer. We have long been plagued with a two-tier health care system predicated on the socioeconomics of the patients.
When I began my career as a surgeon, it was important for me to work with a group of providers who pledged to never turn down a patient with a diagnosis of cancer. Over the years I had the privilege of caring for hundreds of uninsured and underinsured patients, witnessing firsthand the heartbreaking hardships they experienced due to lack of early diagnosis and prompt treatment.
Knowing that I wanted to do more in 2020, I took on the role of chief health equity officer with AdventHealth to help transform health care delivery to achieve both equity and excellence.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) defines health equity as the state in which everyone has a fair and just opportunity to attain their highest level of health. If we’re doing health care well, health equity is another lens we must use to evaluate our work.
At AdventHealth, our mission of “Extending the Healing Ministry of Christ” requires that we deeply understand our patients and their needs — body, mind and spirit. Guided by this mission we are determined to operate as a preeminent, faith-based, consumer-focused clinical care company. To that end, we have made a commitment to ensure that regardless of gender, age, insured status, race or ethnicity, each patient we serve will have equal opportunity to achieve equitable health outcomes. In June 2021, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation awarded AdventHealth a $2 million grant to support this commitment, and we are building a "Bridge to Health Equity" in the communities we serve through:
A data-based approach to identifying health disparities
Collaborating to develop effective interventions
Identifying our personal biases, shifting mindsets and building inclusiveness
As clinicians and citizens, we all want healthier communities. This cannot occur without achieving greater health equity among our diverse populations. Transformative progress in this space requires courage and commitment. We must all do a better job of listening, learning, measuring, connecting and collaborating. Breaking down health disparities is an essential part of our sacred work. Let’s continue this mission-critical duty.
Dr. Alric Simmonds is the chief equity officer at AdventHealth.
