The Catholic Health Association and the Catholic health care ministry are committed to the importance of diversity — both in the workforce and in meeting the needs of diverse patients.

We recognize the importance of fostering diversity throughout the health care system, from the board room and C-suite throughout the entire workforce, both because of the demands of justice and in order to promote the health needs of the many diverse populations we serve. Our commitment to encouraging diversity and ending health disparities is rooted in the spiritual mission of Catholic health care, and CHA is dedicated to promoting this mission in order to improve care for all patients. CHA's Special Committee on Diversity and Health Disparities advises the board and association staff on issues related to leadership diversity, workforce diversity and health disparities, with particular focus on traditionally underrepresented groups.

CHA realizes the need to educate and advocate for traditionally underrepresented groups in order to increase their presence within leadership positions. Additionally, CHA encourages efforts to improve cultural competency within organizations so that we can effectively serve our patients from the many diverse populations in our communities. CHA is a co-founder of the Institute for Diversity in Health Management and continues to work closely on its initiatives. And, CHA advocates for public policy that moves towards elimination of health disparities. With this commitment, CHA continues the mission of Catholic health care in the responsibility to provide care that reflects the needs of those being served.

Roots in Catholic Teachings
The principles of Catholic social teaching, including the inherent dignity of each person; the common good; and concern for poor and vulnerable, provide a moral and ethical basis for the Catholic health care ministry. These values call us to ensure that traditionally underrepresented groups have meaningful opportunities for leadership positions, and to refuse to accept the existence of racial and ethnic disparities in health outcomes, access to care and receipt of quality health care in direct opposition to the mission of Catholic health care and the Catholic social tradition. Directive three and seven of the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, which are guidelines for how we carry out our ministry, reflect our responsibilities in these areas.

Catholic Health Care's Response to Disparities

CHA has collected stories on member programs that showcase creative and collaborative approaches to decrease disparities.

> View the listing of programs

In the News

Agenda for Fighting Disparities, Health Affairs October issue

Achieving Equity in Health, Health Affairs brief on health disparities

Disparities Cloud Health Improvements In Past Decade, Report Finds, Healthy People 2010 Report

Poor women get more unneeded breast cancer surgery, Chicago Tribute, Sept. 19, 2011

October Monthly Report on Minority Health, Kaiser Family Foundation

AHA Diversity Dialogue (Audioconference)
Key Drivers and Tools for Cultural Competence: The Importance of Quality Interactions
Tuesday, Aug. 30

Watson in the examining room? University of Maryland and IBM working on computerized physician's assistant
The Baltimore Sun, Feb. 18, 2011

Agnesian launches $25 million project
Fond du Lac Reporter, Feb. 9, 2011

Diagnosis: More beds are needed; Five-year-old hospital proposal may be gaining necessary momentum
Times Union, Feb. 18, 2011

Providence Medical Center, Saint John Hospital lay off 89
Kansas City Business Journal, Feb. 17, 2011

Health Reform Timeline

(3/23/2010) Improvements to the demonstration on community health integration for certain rural counties.

(3/23/2010) $45 million in additional funding for low-income program outreach and assistance in 2010-2012.

(3/23/2010) Offices of Minority Health established within each HHS agency; transfers current Office to Office of Secretary.

(7/1/2010) Interim final rule for designating medically underserved areas and health professional shortage areas through negotiated rule making.

(7/1/2011) Final rule for designating medically underserved areas and health professional shortage areas through negotiated rule making.

(9/23/2011) Secretary submits report to Congress on evaluation of Medicaid/CHIP health disparities data collection.