About Health Equity
Disparate health outcomes for minorities, individuals experiencing homelessness, and other subsets of California’s population are the result of historic and systemic inequalities that persist today, and it has risen to the level of a public health crisis in California. Unequal access to health care and health resources, as well as unequal and damaging environmental conditions due to race, socioeconomic status, and other factors is untenable in a just and healthy society. Ensuring every Californian receives equitable, high-quality care requires long-term, systemic solutions. Some facts*:
Black Californians have the highest rates of new prostate, colorectal, and lung cancer cases, and the highest death rates for breast, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancer.
About one in five Latinx Californians report not having a usual source of care and difficulty finding a specialist.
Californians who are Native American and Alaska Native, as well as Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, are less likely to report having a checkup within the past year than other racial/ethnic groups.
*Source: California Health Care Foundation
California’s hospitals are on the front lines of mitigating health inequities. Within their communities, hospitals examine and address the social determinants of health — things like housing instability, access to healthy foods, and community violence — that significantly affect health risks and outcomes. And they continually work to improve the experience and outcomes for everyone in their care through a variety of initiatives, including a statewide maternal health quality collaborative; data collection and analysis on race, ethnicity, language preference, and other sociodemographic data; cultural competency training; increasing diversity in leadership and governance; and improving and strengthening community partnerships. But hospitals alone cannot eliminate health disparities. It will take systemic reform, paired with broad partnerships across all segments of California’s communities, to break from the status quo.
5 Things To Know: Naloxone Distribution Project | EMS Forum | Virtual Connection Hub | Substance Use Disorder Webinar | HCAI Loan Repayment Program
FREE FENTANYL TEST STRIPS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE NALOXONE DISTRIBUTION PROJECT: The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is expanding the Naloxone Distribution Project (NDP) to include fentanyl test strips, which can be obtained by eligible organizations statewide. FTS are used to detect the presence of fentanyl in drug samples prior to ingestion. NDP applicants will […]
5 Things To Know: Impact Wellbeing Guide | Population Health Monitoring Presentation | CHA Tagline Translations | HCAI Portal | California University Receives $20M
CDC RELEASES HEALTH CARE WORKER IMPACT WELLBEING GUIDE : The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health released the Impact Wellbeing Guide: Taking Action to Improve Healthcare Worker Wellbeing. This guide is the newest addition to the Impact Wellbeing campaign launched in October 2023 and provides a step-by-step process […]
5 Things To Know: Opioid Pilot Project | North County Shelter | April NAMIWalks | Blue Envelope Program | Rural Health Care Symposium
SAN DIEGO COUNTY LAUNCHES PROGRAM TO REDUCE OPIOID MISUSE: San Diego County has launched a pilot project to reduce access to, and misuse of, prescription opioids by encouraging safe disposal. Through the program, which will primarily focus on east and central areas where overdose death rates are highest, both health care providers and patients who […]
Turning Heartbreak into a Resource
The Gillespie family established the Jayden T. Gillespie Foundation to reduce the stigma that often surrounds behavioral health disorders.
5 Things To Know: Public Safety Power Shutoffs, Medi-Cal Rx, Minority Fellowship Program, Patient Safety Evaluation Summit, Behavioral Health System
PUBLIC SAFETY POWER SHUTOFFS: San Diego Gas & Electric (SDGE) is conducting two public safety power shutoff (PSPS) exercises and welcomes the attendance and participation of external stakeholders:
PSPS Tabletop Exercise: April 11, 8 a.m.-noon
PSPS Full-Scale Exercise: May 1-2
If you are interested in participating, please complete the Extent of Play Agreement and email a PDF copy to EMTrainingExercise@sdge.com. If you are interested in scheduling a tour for your organization, please reach out to EmergencyServices_SDGE@sdge.com
5 Things To Know: HASD&IC Education Opportunity, Public Charge Final Rule, CDPH Leadership Updates, Telehealth Equity, Health Careers Grants
HASD&IC EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY: The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) will join HASD&IC for a webinar on Oct. 20 from 10 to 11 a.m. (PT) on the Hospital Presumptive Eligibility Program and the COVID-19 Uninsured Group Program. DHCS will provide an overview of both programs and share common mistakes made by providers that cause delays in benefits. There will be time for Q&A at the end of the presentation. Because we would like to give DHCS time to review your questions in advance and respond during the Q&A session, please submit your questions by Oct. 14. Advance registration is requested.
5 Things To Know: Workforce, Health Equity Webinars, Behavioral Health, Scholarship and Loan Repayment Programs
WORKFORCE: The San Diego Workforce Partnership recently launched the Healthcare Administration Pathways Program. This program will put participants with no health care experience (but preferable experience in hospitality or retail) through the UC San Diego (UCSD) Division of Extended Studies Revenue Cycle and Management Intensive Course at no cost to them. The partnership is working with UCSD, Rady’s Children’s Hospital, and Scripps Health to fill patient access representative I positions in hopes of diversifying the pipeline of workers. Participants who complete the course will also be eligible to sit for the certified revenue cycle specialist exam, which the workforce partnership will also fund. The San Diego Workforce Partnership is looking to expand partnerships with more hospitals in the region for this program.
Celebrating Efforts to Improve Care for Our Aging Population
At our board meeting earlier this month, we heard about the statewide health equity focus that will involve not just HASD&IC but also CHA, the Hospital Association of Southern California, and Hospital Council – Northern & Central California. This important work entails collaboration among the four associations and their member hospitals to ensure care is inclusive and equitable for all. It includes:
Medi-Cal Expansion Vital to Ensuring Healthy Communities
Access to health care is vital to a healthy society, and to ensure that those in our local communities can see a doctor when necessary, it’s imperative that they have coverage.
Turning the Spotlight on Equity in the Health Care System
This June, as we celebrate Pride Month, it’s a good reminder for everyone about the role that hospitals and health systems play in building inclusive and equitable communities for our LGBTQ+ neighbors.