What’s in Your Health Equity Playbook? Roles and Responsibilities for Hospital Boards

The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the significant health disparities that exist among racial, ethnic and vulnerable populations. Long-standing, systemic health and social inequities have resulted in unnecessary suffering and unrealized human, social, and economic potential. The time has come for hospital boards and healthcare leaders to address these head on.

Listen in as Maria Hernandez, PhD, president of Impact4Health, and Karma Bass, Principal at Via Healthcare Consulting discuss what an organizational playbook to address health inequities might look like. They will provide examples of what hospitals and health systems are doing to make a difference in reducing inequities and explain the board’s role in facilitating meaningful change.
The discussion will include specific steps boards can take as they lead their organizations on the journey to create a more just and equitable system of care for all of their communities. They will provide examples of innovative work being done around the country and make the argument that there can be no high quality and safe care without equity.

Dr. Maria Hernandez is President and Chief Operating Officer of Impact4Health, a consulting firm focused on healthcare innovations, strategy, and community engagement to reduce healthcare disparities. She has led the research for the Inclusion Scorecard for Population Health™ and the Inclusive Leader 360™, each of which is designed to advance health equity and create a culture of inclusion that meets the needs of diverse patient populations. Dr. Hernandez also serves as Secretary of the Board of Trustees for Alameda Health System with a membership on the Human Resource and Quality and Professional Services Committees. A graduate of the University of Texas, she holds a PhD in Community Psychology and is a Danforth and American Psychological Association Minority Fellow. Maria was inducted into the Alameda County Women’s Hall of Fame for her work in healthcare in March 2019.

Karma Bass, MPH, FACHE: Over the past 25 years, Karma Bass has worked with healthcare leaders across the United States on governance, strategic planning, philanthropy, policy, and board effectiveness. Prior to launching her consulting career, she served as president and CEO of Alliance Healthcare Foundation in San Diego, where she reported to an independent, 11-member not-for-profit board. Notably, Ms. Bass spent 10 years at The Governance Institute where she led its member services, research and publications. Ms. Bass is board-certified in healthcare management and holds a master’s degree in public health with a focus in health services administration from San Diego State University.