Purpose

The purpose of this Discussion is to explore current initiatives advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in healthcare and identify strategies to lead efforts to improve health equity in local communities.

Course Outcomes

This Discussion enables the student to meet the following course outcomes:

• CO 1: Apply the concepts of equity, diversity, and inclusion to nursing practice, nursing roles, and continued development. (POs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
• CO 4: Apply strategies to mitigate personal and professional bias. (POs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)

Discussion: Apply Knowledge

Step 1: Reflect on the call for nurses to reduce health disparities and promote equity issued by the Future of Nursing 2020-2030 report.

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2021. The future of nursing 2020-2030: Charting a path to achieve health equity.Links to an external site. The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/25982

Step 2: Answer the discussion prompts below with explanation and detail.

• Paragraph one: Identify one local, state, or national initiative to advance EDI in healthcare. Describe how the initiative intends to address the unique needs and challenges faced by underrepresented groups, such as racial and ethnic minorities or individuals from low-income backgrounds.
• Paragraph two: How does the initiative address systemic barriers and biases within healthcare policies, practices, and organizational structures? Describe specific measures being taken to dismantle discriminatory practices and promote a culture of equity. If the initiative does not include specific measures to dismantle discriminatory practices, provide two possible measures to accomplish this goal.
• Paragraph three: How can you answer the call issued by the Future of Nursing 2020-2030 report to reduce health disparities and promote equity in your local community?
• References: Provide complete references for all citations.

SOLUTION:

One national initiative aimed at advancing EDI in healthcare would be the Department of Health & Human’s resources (HHS) Action Plan to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. “This plan represents an ongoing commitment by HHS to coordinate efforts and assess the nation’s progress toward addressing racial and ethnic disparities in health and health care” (Department of Health & Human Services-USA, 2015).  This plan is the most comprehensive federal commitment for working on reducing health disparities in the country. It provides a framework for agencies and offices to institute policy efforts, as well as promotes integrated approaches and evidence-based programs to ensure equity for the American people. This initiative addresses the unique needs and challenges faced by underrepresented groups by increasing the availability, quality, and use of data to improve the health of minority populations and also providing incentives for better health care quality for minority populations (Department of Health & Human Services- USA, 2015). In doing this, organizations are more inclined to address the health disparities among these underserved populations, and in turn better care will be provided.

One of the ways that this initiative addresses systemic barriers and biases within healthcare policies, practices, and organizational structures is by measuring and providing incentives for better health care quality for minority populations and by reducing disparities in health  insurance coverage and access to care. “Health insurance coverage is a critical part of any effort to remove financial barriers to care.” (Department of Health & Human Services- USA, 2015). With the expansion of the Affordable Care Act, this allowed millions of racial and ethnic minorities the chance to gain affordable and quality health insurance coverage.  Racial and ethnic minorities often……….KINDLY CLICK ON THE PURCHASE LINK BELOW TO ACCESS THE ENTIRE SLOUTION FOR $8 OR CONTACT US VIA WHATSAPP NUMBER +254721652000