THE VALUED VOICE

WHA’s quality department and the WHA Information Center (WHAIC) have joined together to develop tools to support members in identifying and eliminating barriers to the delivery of equitable health care.

From Wisconsin’s picturesque rural settings in Bayfield and the tribal community of St. Croix to the Capitol city of Madison and the culturally diverse city of Milwaukee, social determinants of health (SDOH) have different impacts on each of the communities WHA member hospitals serve. A community’s distinctive characteristics can significantly influence access, cost and quality of care.   

Information and tools developed by WHA will help members address this priority. The first step will be the launch of a health equity organizational assessment (HEOA) to all Wisconsin hospitals. The HEOA survey will evaluate current efforts around health equity. The assessment evaluates the ability to identify and address health disparities in several evidence-based areas, including:  

• Consistent collection of accurate demographic data;
• Use of demographic data to identify and resolve disparities; and
• Implementation of organizational and cultural structures required to sustain the delivery of equitable care. 

Based on the results from this survey, WHAIC will introduce a HEOA summary dashboard, an interactive tool that can be used to assist hospitals in identifying areas of opportunity, next steps and recommendations to address disparities in care. WHA and WHAIC will also work with members to devise strategies that focus on making a positive impact on SDOH.
 
WHA members can expect to receive the HEOA survey soon. For questions, contact WHA Clinical Quality Improvement Advisor Jill Lindwall.