commentary C D A J O U R N A L , V O L 4 9 , Nº 12
Innovative Health Literacy Strategy Advances Health Equity: Perspectives of the Cambridge Health Alliance Past and Present Department Chiefs Ryan S. Lee, DDS, MPH, MHA, and Brian J. Swann, DDS, MPH
AUTHORS Ryan S. Lee, DDS, MPH, MHA, is the chief of dental services at the Cambridge Health Alliance, a community health system serving Cambridge, Somerville and Boston’s metro-north communities. Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None reported.
Brian J. Swann, DDS, MPH, is the former chief of dental services at the Cambridge Health Alliance. Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None reported.
I
n 2008, the Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) began a transformative journey. This journey not only ensured the survival of community health services in danger of being diminished or completely lost, but also improved health literacy for its peers and patients as well as utilizing core health literacy concepts to advance health equity. As the organization experienced a complete paradigm shift that involved new leadership, in-depth internal evaluation and assessments, personnel and policy changes and consistent emphasis on operational fitness, the CHA incorporated a steady focus on better educating its patients and peers as well as maintaining standards of excellence in its fair and equitable delivery of community health services. The CHA was faced with myriad challenges resulting from the 2008 economic downturn, including the loss of state funding due to reallocations, an inefficient dental billing system and a major decrease in its revenue stream
leading to reductions in staff and programs as well as decreased access to dental services and oral health education for patients. Committed to creating a healthliterate community and fair and equitable treatment for all, the CHA recognized the need for cultural sensitivity and input from the community regarding needed services. The CHA also recognized that health equity across all segments of the population required patient and provider health literacy. Despite the challenges, the CHA conducted its operations based on guidelines described in the Healthy People Initiative. The alliance managed to survive, created innovative and inclusive programs and continued to expand community services. The mission and focus of the CHA remain constant and directly align with the central goals of the Healthy People 2030 initiative,1 which is to eliminate health disparities, achieve health equity and attain health literacy to improve the health and welfare for all. The CHA has D ECEMBER 2 0 2 1
779
