Developing Data-Driven, Innovative Solutions
COVID-19 Disparities in the Community
Sutter’s Community Health and Health Equity efforts have led to collaboration with and support of community-based programs that expanded testing, contact tracing and vaccination for the most vulnerable in our community.
Unconscious Bias Training
In the fall of 2022, Sutter’s Institute for Advancing Health Equity co-hosted its Unconscious Bias in Healthcare Symposium alongside the California Medical Association, Physicians for a Healthy California and the California Primary Care Association. There, numerous leaders from across the state gathered to discuss existing hurdles and help inform new recommendations to mitigate bias in healthcare.
COVID-19 Vaccine Equity Solutions
Sutter is now one of the largest systems nationwide to eliminate race-based eGFR reporting – helping correct an industry-wide issue and make earlier diagnosis, treatment and transplant list placement for thousands of Black patients possible. In a 2022 study, researchers with Sutter’s Institute for Advancing Health Equity linked bias in pulse oximeter devices used to measure blood oxygen levels with a potential 4.5-hour delay in treatment for Black patients with COVID-19. Sutter’s team is collaborating with other community providers to empower and educate patients and care teams to better interpret the device readings. We are supporting and amplifying efforts to mitigate racial and ethnic bias in clinical algorithms and decision-making both at Sutter and across the healthcare industry.
Maternal Health Equity Innovation Lab
We’ve formed the Health Equity Innovation Lab for Maternal Health Equity, which is dedicated specifically to childbirth inequities. By accelerating the cycle of innovation and research to advance maternal health equity solutions, we can help ensure access to care and optimal maternal and infant outcomes for all. We’re currently working on several pilots that focus on closing identified equity gaps in breast feeding, perinatal and postpartum depression screening, doula support, and improving access to resources among at-risk pregnant patients, among others.
Diabetes in Salinas' Latino Community
Sutter’s HEI helped Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System identify patient populations at higher risk for diabetes, leading to investments in programs like new diabetes clinics and bilingual certified diabetic educators.
Asthma in Oakland's African American Community
Sutter’s HEI identified higher-than-expected rates of emergency visits for asthma among African American patients. Aiming to address this, Sutter collaborated to create a community-based program for African American patients in East Oakland and Berkeley to support asthma management.
Patient Stories
The following is a collection of stories that demonstrates our health equity work in action.
Care Begins with Trust
Christina Washington describes how she’s better managing her asthma thanks to the support of a collaborative program between LifeLong Medical Care and Sutter Heath.
When Baby Comes Early
Evandro and Joyce are grateful for the care they received during the premature birth and NICU care of their son at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center (part of Sutter Health network) in Berkeley.
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The Institute for Advancing Health Equity
would love to hear from you
We believe that as a provider network we must do all we can to advance health equity, and we are committed to collaborating with others throughout the state and nation in these efforts. (Please don’t include any patient health information in the email)