The October edition of Trustee Insights, the monthly digital package from the American Hospital Association (AHA), focuses on health equity for women and Native Americans.
Trustees should prioritize addressing the distinct needs of women for several reasons. Women represent over half the population, consume more healthcare resources on an individual basis compared to men and are responsible for over 80% of healthcare spending decisions.
According to the US Census Bureau, Michigan is one of 10 states with the largest population of Native Americans. Many Native Americans have incomes significantly below the national average and face challenges with reliable transportation, or lack transportation altogether, which hinders their access to healthcare.
The article highlights strategies for trustees to guide the hospital’s work in reducing healthcare disparities among women and Indigenous Americans. These approaches include advocating for implicit bias training, encouraging open discussions about inequities and creating opportunities to drive collaboration to improve health.
Members with questions about MHA trustee resources or webinars should contact Erin Steward at the MHA.