Reigniting the Human Connection: A Pathway to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Healthcare

In order to resolve the significant racial, ethnic, language, and financial inequities that exist in healthcare quality and access, health systems must undertake the development of systematic approaches to advance diversity, inclusion, and health equity.

Developed from the data, experience, and research that emerged from ten years of intentional creation of such an approach at Northwell Health, Reigniting the Human Connection: A Pathway to Diversity, Inclusion, and Health Equity offers readers an adaptable framework on which to build their own response. This carefully constructed framework is centered on a holistic vision of care, one that utilizes approaches that support the emergence of patients as partners in their care in order to meet the demands of twenty-first-century healthcare.

JENNIFER H. MIERES, MD, is a professor of cardiology and a leading expert in patient-centered healthcare advocacy. As senior vice president of Northwell Health's Center for Equity of Care, Dr. Mieres provides strategic guidance for Northwell's diversity and health equity initiatives and serves as the health system's first chief diversity and inclusion officer.

ELIZABETH C. McCULLOCH, PhD, is the assistant vice president for diversity and health equity at Northwell Health. Dr. McCulloch established and oversees systemwide language access services and health literacy strategies. She has extensive experience in community and health equity research, particularly in applications of quantitative analysis.

MICHAEL P. WRIGHT, EdD, served as vice president of diversity and health equity at Northwell Health. Dr. Wright has over twenty years of experience in leadership development and implementation of talent strategies across various industries globally. He is also an assistant professor at Hofstra University's Zarb School of Business.

FOREWORD
BY MICHAEL J. DOWLING
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
INTRODUCTION
A JOURNEY TOWARD HEALTH EQUITY

PART I
A MAP FOR ACCOMPLISHING
NEEDED CHANGE
CHAPTER ONE
WHY A FORMALIZED APPROACH TO DIVERSITY, INCLUSION, AND HEALTH EQUITY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER BEFORE
CHAPTER TWO
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE HUMAN CONNECTION, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION
CHAPTER THREE
A FRAMEWORK FOR DIVERSITY, INCLUSION, AND HEALTH EQUITY
CHAPTER FOUR
CREATING A FRAMEWORK FOR SUSTAINABLE CHANGE

PART II
BUILDING A FRAMEWORK FOR DIVERSITY, INCLUSION, AND HEALTH EQUITY
CHAPTER FIVE
LEADERSHIP COMMITMENT
CHAPTER SIX
EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
CHAPTER SEVEN
LANGUAGE ACCESS
CHAPTER EIGHT
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP
CHAPTER NINE
SUPPLIER DIVERSITY
CHAPTER TEN
WORKFORCE

PART III
INCLUSION AND ALLYSHIP
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CREATING AND SUSTAINING A CULTURE OF INCLUSION
CHAPTER TWELVE
THE IMPORTANCE OF ALLYSHIP IN THE EVOLVING HEALTHCARE LANDSCAPE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
A PATH FORWARD

ABOUT THE AUTHORS
APPENDIX
NEXT STEPS ON YOUR JOURNEY
TOWARD HEALTH EQUITY
ENDNOTES