CArE fosters sustainable partnerships, drives systemic change and develops innovative solutions to support historically marginalized communities. CArE coordinates and focuses health equity efforts on the needs of the community, particularly among Black and Hispanic populations who have been traditionally underserved.
With this commitment, CArE will host the inaugural Health Equity in Action Summit on Feb. 19. This event will unite professionals, community leaders and advocates to discuss practical strategies for advancing health equity.
“The summit serves as an ideal starting point for the conversation and collaboration that are necessary to advance health equity. Harris Health was founded almost 60 years ago to provide healthcare services to the underserved. We are proud of what we have accomplished. However, we recognize there is more work to be done. Inequities in maternal health, heart health, and behavioral health are bigger than any one team or institution. Solving systemic inequities requires a systemic, cross-sectoral and multi-disciplinary approach fueled by the community,” said Chethan Bachireddy, MD, MSc, chief health officer, Harris Health and executive director, CArE. “CArE is committed to deepening Harris Health’s efforts by actively listening, fostering collaboration and finding ways to collectively address complex health challenges affecting our patients and their families.”
CArE takes a strategic approach focused on trust-building, rigorous data analysis and deep community collaboration by investing in exceptional health care and forging strong partnerships to improve health outcomes where people live, work and play. CArE achieves this through its five pillars, which serve as its core strategies for action.
CArE operates under five strategic pillars:
- Community collaboration
- Exceptional health care
- Equity innovation
- Workforce development and culture
- Community investment and advocacy
"Each of these five pillars represents a crucial component of achieving true health equity," said Himika Rahman, MD, MPH, manager of strategic initiatives, Population Health, Harris Health. "We cannot focus on health care alone; only by tackling these issues holistically can we create meaningful and lasting improvements in health outcomes for all."
Health Equity in Action Summit: Seven key initiatives
As part of the summit, CArE will highlight seven key initiatives designed to address the five pillars. These initiatives demonstrate CArE’s commitment to holistic health care approaches that consider medical, social and economic factors.
- Community Health Worker Program: supports Harris Health patients with uncontrolled Type II Diabetes through home and virtual visits, ensuring comprehensive, coordinated care.
- HealthyConnect for Hypertension: a remote patient monitoring program that provides real-time visibility of patient-submitted blood pressure readings.
- Culinary Medicine Classes: a patient-centered curriculum incorporating nutrition education and hands-on cooking instruction.
- Medical-Legal Partnership: integrates legal expertise into health care settings to address structural issues that contribute to health inequities.
- Be Well™ Acres Homes: a resident-led initiative to promote wellness and reduce chronic disease risks in the Acres Homes community.
- Food Rx at the Food Farmacy: addresses food and nutrition insecurity by providing fresh, healthy food to patients with chronic conditions.
- CArE’s Heart Health Focus: Harris Health is committed to a five-year plan to improve heart health equity to aid in reducing life expectancy gaps in Houston.
"These initiatives are just the beginning," Rahman said. "Each year, we will refine and expand our focus based on community needs, emerging challenges and the impact of our ongoing efforts. By continuously evolving, we can ensure that our strategies remain relevant and effective in addressing health disparities and improving the well-being of the communities we serve."
Long-term vision for health equity
The Health Equity in Action Summit marks the beginning of a sustained effort to engage the community, foster collaboration and create impactful health initiatives. The long-term goal is to make this summit an annual event, continually evolving with new insights and partnerships. CArE is committed to ongoing engagement through quarterly listening sessions, workshops, and community-led projects to ensure that the voices of those most affected by health inequities remain at the center of the conversation.
This summit is not a one-time gathering but a launchpad for long-term change. By listening to the community, investing in innovative solutions, and building sustainable partnerships, the Sheila Jackson Lee Center for Accelerating Health Equity aims to drive meaningful progress in closing health gaps and ensuring that every individual has the opportunity to achieve optimal health.
How the community can help
Understanding the needs and concerns of the community is essential to achieving health equity. CArE encourages community members to share their insights, experiences and suggestions to help shape future initiatives.
Learn more
To learn more about the Center for Accelerating Health Equity, visit CArE’s webpage or email [email protected] The address for the webpage is: Harris Health Sheila Jackson Lee Center for Accelerating Health Equity (CArE).
The above story was produced by Multi Platform Journalist Chloe Chapel with Community Impact's Storytelling team with information solely provided by the local business as part of their "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.
