Memorial Health is committed to advancing equity and inclusion within the health system and in the surrounding communities. The Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Division engages patients, colleagues and community members to create an inclusive environment where each person is treated fairly and with dignity, and where everyone can access resources for living healthy lives. Our EDI Pledge outlines our commitments. They are also embedded in each of our four guiding values .
To contact the EDI team, please email us at inclusion@mhsil.com .
Overview
Memorial Health launched its EDI initiative in 2020 with the goal of creating a welcoming and inclusive organization while working with the community to address health inequities. In the words of president and CEO Ed Curtis, “We have come to realize that we cannot achieve our mission without acknowledging and addressing the barriers to care created by systemic racism and other forms of discrimination.” The EDI Division is responsible for leading these internal and external efforts with colleagues, patients and community members.
The EDI Division uses the following broad definitions to describe this work:
Equity - Providing resources that meet the diverse needs or situations of each individual so they may be successful. Equity is about making sure each person has a fair or just opportunity.
Diversity - All the characteristics and traits that make each person unique.
Inclusion - Co-creating an environment where everyone feels valued, respected, supported and able to participate meaningfully in the group.
Partnerships
EDI is an integral part of healthcare at Memorial Health and in healthcare across the United States. We are proud to participate in numerous state and national projects, including:
Illinois Health and Hospital Association Racial Equity in Healthcare Progress Report
American Hospital Association Health Equity Roadmap
BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois Health Equity Hospital Quality Incentive Pilot Program
Press Ganey Equity Partnership
National Center for Healthcare Leadership/Leadership Excellence Networks DEI Council
BJC Collaborative, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Leaders
For our partnerships in the community, please see our community health page .
Colleague Support
Every colleague receives training in health equity and caring for diverse communities. All providers also take unconscious bias training to renew their Illinois state licenses. A four-hour “Introduction to EDI” training is regularly offered, as are smaller and focused trainings for various teams. One-on-one consultations are also available.
Current colleagues can connect through the EDI Workplace page, where they can find information about upcoming panels and events, special days and months that celebrate the diversity of our community and various training opportunities.
Health Equity
Health equity is when everyone has a fair and just opportunity to achieve their complete well-being: physical, mental and social. Memorial Health is committed to delivering equitable care and routinely monitors what we do and our outcomes to ensure everyone receives the same high-quality services.
Only 20% of a person’s health is directly related to medical care. About 50% comes from social factors like education, income, community safety and more. Memorial Health’s community health work prioritizes engaging these “social drivers of health” as a key part of advancing health equity. The Community Health Needs Assessment offers more information and can be found on the Community Health page.
Community Health