Health disparities are preventable differences in health and health care that stem from broader inequities, and for people of color in the United States, disparities are prevalent and persistent. Across the U.S., leading health systems are working to uncover, understand and address these disparities.

As a large healthcare network in California, Sutter Health has the resources, data and reach to generate robust findings and test new models and innovations that can be shared and implemented nationally.

Through research, data and partnerships, the Sutter Health Institute for Advancing Health Equity is uncovering and addressing healthcare disparities and furthering health equity solutions within its system and across the country. Sutter also sponsors educational conferences and events, such as the National Black Nurses Association’s 52nd Annual Institute and Conference that recently took place in San Francisco.

Conference Spotlights Health Inequities, Identifies Potential Solutions

At the National Black Nurses Association conference, Sutter nurse leaders and clinicians led sessions focused on health inequities in the areas of pressure injuries in patients with dark skin tones and Black maternal health.

Accurate skin assessment and early identification is critical for prevention and treatment of pressure injuries, and partially due to lack of early identification, patients with dark skin are more likely to develop higher-category pressure injuries. Nurse Reggie Escobin, director of Medical Surgical Telemetry at Sutter’s Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, Dr. Stephanie Y. Brown, medical director of the Sutter Health Institute for Advancing Health Equity, and nurse practitioner Surani Hayre-Kwan, Sutter’s vice president for Professional Practice and Ambulatory Patient Care, shared how Sutter identified the opportunity to address this disparity by analyzing data and implementing standard work to measure and document skin tone. Based on this measurement, for patients with dark skin tones distinct steps are taken to improve visualization during skin assessment to help nurses accurately identify early-stage pressure injuries.

In a separate presentation, Nakia Wallace, Nursing Program manager at Alta Bates Summit, and Dr. Angelyn Thomas, an Ob/Gyn with Sutter East Bay Medical Group, clinical lead for Birth Equity for the Sutter Institute for Advancing Health Equity and administrative medical director of Women and Infant Services at Alta Bates Summit, presented on Black maternal health and birth equity. Data shows that Black women in the U.S. are 3.5 times more likely to die from pregnancy and childbirth complications than women of all other races, even after correcting for socioeconomic status, disease or medical conditions that are present simultaneously. Wallace and Dr. Thomas shared local maternal and infant mortality trends and causes, factors that contribute to maternal health disparities and outcomes, and evidence-based practices and interventions aimed at addressing and reducing disparities in Black maternal health.

“We see sponsoring and presenting at the NBNA conference as a way to help influence equitable care well beyond our network,” says Hayre-Kwan. “At Sutter, we’re focused on using data-driven insights, groundbreaking methods and realistic solutions to improve outcomes for all patients.”

Building a Diverse Workforce

In conjunction with the NBNA conference, Sutter provided local youth the opportunity to peek into various healthcare careers. Through simulated experiences, children from the San Francisco Boys and Girls Club visited Sutter’s California Pacific Medical Center Davies Campus to see how nurses, lab techs, infection control specialists, pharmacists and other medical professionals do their jobs and directly impact patient care. By providing early exposure to these roles, Sutter hopes to pique youth interest in pursuing careers in healthcare.

Nurse conference attendees were invited to Sutter-sponsored events and were encouraged to meet with Sutter leaders and presenters to learn more about Sutter’s work to advance health equity and build a diverse healthcare workforce.

“At Sutter, we recognize that diversity, equity and inclusion are essential to building trust and partnerships with the communities we serve,” says Dana Beckton, Sutter Health’s chief diversity and inclusion officer. “Nurses, especially those from diverse backgrounds, play a crucial role in delivering culturally competent care and improving health outcomes. Supporting and celebrating our diverse nursing workforce helps make our organization the best place to work, practice and receive care.”