The AHA Accelerating Health Equity conference in Kansas City, Mo. on May 7 drew over 1,000 attendees. Joanne M. Conroe, MD, CEO and President of Dartmouth Health and 2024 Chair of the AHA Board of Trustees, highlighted the importance of partnerships among hospitals, health systems, patients, community members and public health organizations in addressing and eliminating barriers to equitable healthcare.
Clint Smith, author of “Getting the Word Out” and staff writer at The Atlantic, delivered keynote remarks that resonated with the audience. Sessions focused on strategies for hospitals to address the social determinants of health such as integrating screening and referral systems into electronic health records and collaborating with community organizations to improve care coordination. Leaders from ChristianaCare, Memorial Healthcare System and LSU Health Sciences Center shared their insights during these sessions.
During the opening session, five healthcare organizations – Essentia Health, John Muir Health, University Hospitals, Munson Healthcare and Palomar Health – were recognized by Conroy with the AHA Dick Davidson NOVA Award for their commitment to advancing health equity. CHRISTUS Health and LMH Health led discussions on the role of leadership and boards of directors in prioritizing health equity in healthcare organizations.