Outreach to diverse population increases quality care, patient safety
A national think tank has recognized Providence Holy Cross Medical Center for outstanding inclusivity, bestowing six A grades for patient care, quality care, safety and serving its community.
The Mission Hills hospital earned the top grades from the Lown Hospitals Index for Social Responsibility for inclusivity – based on effectively serving the local demographic – and the resulting social responsibility, quality patient outcomes, top clinical outcomes, patient safety and cost efficiency.
“Excellence and compassion in serving our community, which is largely Hispanic, reflect our deep-seated Providence values,” said Sheril Garzon, executive director of quality for Providence Holy Cross and chair of the internal Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. “We believe it’s important to address DEI within the workplace to advance the care we provide to all our patients, regardless of race, ethnicity, faith or gender.”
Providence, with 51 hospitals in seven states, is committed to equal access to equitable care. The early days of the pandemic shown a spotlight on health equities, and Providence is committed to addressing them, providing $50 million to the cause.
At Providence Holy Cross, that included initiating the DEI Committee, strengthening relationships with community partners to address unmet health needs, requiring implicit bias training, supporting Black Mamas Glowing to empower expecting mothers to address their concerns about higher rates of Black infant and maternal mortality, a health care partnership with Vaughn Next Century Learning Centers in the northeast Valley and alignment with Providence Facey Medical Center’s Black Doctors Committee to help ease patients' mistrust of health care.
According to Lown, which analyzed federal health care data, inclusivity leads to:
- Improved patient outcomes: Care that recognizes the needs of diverse populations leads to better health and wellbeing for all.
- Reduction in health disparities: Inclusivity is a key driver in reducing gaps in access to care.
- Enhanced trust and satisfaction: Patients who feel seen, heard, and respected are more likely to trust their health care providers and report higher levels of satisfaction.
- Attracting top talent: Hospitals that prioritize inclusivity attract the best talent and can boost retention for current staff.
“As a top-performing hospital, you demonstrate that it's possible not only to talk about inclusivity, but actively put it into practice,” said Annie Duval, hospital support manager for Lown. “Well done.”
The Lown Institute—an independent health care think tank—graded the inclusivity practices of more than 3,500 hospitals and 295 health systems on the fourth annual and largest Index to date, published this summer. Lown drew data from inpatient admissions recorded in 2021 in the Medicare Provider Analysis and Review and beneficiaries’ ZIP codes.
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About Providence Southern California
Providence Southern California is Southern California’s largest health system with 11 hospitals, more than 100 clinics, outpatient centers, TrinityCare Hospice and its TrinityKids Care pediatric hospice, Providence High School, home health care services, eight wellness centers, telehealth and numerous physician groups in its Southern California Region. Providence is committed to an enduring mission of outreach to the poor and vulnerable, and last year contributed $608 million in services, programs and charity care to those in need.
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