RAPID CITY, S.D., (July 23, 2018) – Monument Health is one of five health systems in the United States to be honored by the American Hospital Association for efforts to create a diverse, inclusive environment for staff, patients and families.
The 2018 AHA Equity of Care Award will go to Navicent Health of Macon, Ga., during the July 27 AHA Leadership Summit. In addition, Rush University Medical Center of Chicago, Atrium Health of Charlotte, N.C., Cone Health of Greensboro, N.C., and Rapid City-based Monument Health will be named as honorees. The award program recognizes hospitals and health systems for their efforts to reduce health care disparities based on differences such as race, ethnicity, language and socio-economic condition.
“This year’s Equity of Care winner and honorees are pushing the field forward in diversity, inclusion, and health equity,” said AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack. “They have demonstrated that hospitals and health systems are committed to understanding the social determinants of health within their communities, and are on the front lines of bridging the gaps of equity within the field.”
In 2016, Monument Health launched a systemwide effort to create awareness focused on cultural competency education. As a result, 60 percent of caregivers participated in face-to-face training. This included special sessions created for medical staff. In 2017, this training was extended to all new caregivers on their first-day orientation, and in 2018 an additional session was included on their 90-day follow-up orientation.
“We have made diversity a priority at Monument Health,” said Paulette Davidson, Acting President and CEO of Monument Health. “As many as a third of our patients represent different cultures, and in order to effectively care for their medical needs, we need to understand their cultural backgrounds. It’s just good medicine.”
Also, Monument Health developed a job shadowing program for Native American students and organizations.
Monument Health
Monument Health is an integrated health care system with the purpose of helping patients and communities live well. The organization, headquartered in Rapid City, provides community-based health care covering 32 specialty areas of medicine in more than 20 communities in two states. Monument Health is comprised of five hospitals, 25 clinics and more than 5,000 physicians and caregivers. Monument Health hospitals in Rapid City, Spearfish and Sturgis have been rated as four-star hospitals by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. For more information, visit regionalhealth.org.
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CONTACT:
Dan Daly
Communications Specialist
Strategic Marketing and Communications
Monument Health
605-755-9178
ddaly@monument.health
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