Avera is joining with the Catholic Health Association of the United States in an effort to confront racism and achieve health equity.
The pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement last year highlighted what minority communities have always known. Systemic racism can affect all aspects of life, including access to healthcare.
Mary Hill is the Chief Mission Officer for Avera. She says they realized they could do more.
“CHA saw that this was a time that we could come together and pool our collective influence our collective resources, and have a voice at at a national level ”
The initiative has four actionable parts. Ensuring access to COVID-19 testing and vaccines. Advocating for improved health outcomes. A commitment to listen and strengthen trust with minority communities. And looking internally at more diverse hiring practices and inclusivity across their own health systems.
In South Dakota, this means working closely with Native American communities. JR LaPlante is Director of Tribal Relations for Avera’s American Indian Health Initiative. He says the first step is to listen.
“You know, I think for a long time we've always just kind of assumed what the priorities were. And, of course, what we've seen now is a historical, missing of the mark, so to speak, when it comes to Indian healthcare.”
LaPlante adds one issue is routinely brought up.
“And so what we're seeing is that one of the biggest priorities in Indian Country right now, when it comes to healthcare is mental health services. And so to that end, what we have done is we've worked very closely with the Oglala Sioux tribe to try to start a telebehavioral health program within the tribal schools on the reservation.”
Avera and the CHA intend to provide annual updates on their progress to hold itself accountable.