Neighborhood Health Center is committed to working toward health equity, and developing a more inclusive healthcare environment at Neighborhood is a step in this direction. One recent example of Neighborhood’s efforts are the strategies implemented in 2020-2021 to address a disparity between Hispanic/Latino patients with diabetes and Non-Hispanic/Latino patients with diabetes in their A1c tests.

Neighborhood reviewed all of its nutritional guidance for patients and revised it to be culturally sensitive and inclusive. And, Neighborhood instituted dedicated diabetes sessions with a nurse practitioner who focuses on diabetes management. These sessions were scheduled at the Neighborhood location where 75% of all Neighborhood Hispanic/Latino patients with diabetes are seen. These two interventions increased access to diabetes specialty care for the Hispanic and Latino patients with diabetes, and increased access to culturally relevant educational and lifestyle-modification materials.

After just one year with these new efforts, Neighborhood saw a 5% improvement in the A1c tests of Hispanic/Latino patients.

Neighborhood’s Vice President of Strategy Kelly Suzan, Wellness Department Chair Dana Ingebretson, and Director of Quality Franklin Smith recently gave a presentation on these initiatives at the Health Resources & Services Administration Health Equity Symposium.

As the populations Neighborhood serves continue to become more diverse, it is more critical than ever to approach all challenges through the lenses of equity and inclusion. To learn more about Neighborhood’s mission and values, click here.