Message from the Vice President and Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer
At Houston Methodist, every patient is treated as a person of sacred worth. Our goal is to always provide everyone we serve with unparalleled safety, quality, service and innovation. However, access to equitable health care outcomes is not the same for everyone. For the past four years, the Houston Methodist Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) has worked tirelessly to embed the work we do into our I CARE values of integrity, compassion, accountability, respect and excellence.
In 2023, we added a goal to our five-year DEI plan to address health equity — both equity in health care to reduce health disparities, and equitable treatment for all people at Houston Methodist. We made many strides, while recognizing there is still much more we need to do. This report highlights our initial efforts around equity.
Caring for the entire person requires us to pay attention to the factors that lead us to different journeys in our employment as well as our health outcomes. I’m hopeful that as you read along, these words will increase your awareness and inspire you to get involved. If we look after each other, one person at a time, we can make a difference.
Arianne D. Dowdell Vice President and Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer
Houston Methodist
What is Health Equity?
Health equity refers to the state in which everyone has a fair and just opportunity to attain their highest level of health. Achieving this requires ongoing efforts to address societal factors such as economic, social and other obstacles which impact access to health care services, and the elimination of preventable health disparities.
What are Social Drivers of Health?
Social drivers of health (SDOH) are the social and economic conditions in which people are born, live, work and play. These conditions can all correlate to social drivers related to a person’s ability to afford or have access to health care services, healthy food, affordable housing, transportation and more. SDOH are often the underlying drivers of major health issues that impact health outcomes, such as diabetes, obesity, depression and heart disease.
Medication
Affordability
Social Drivers of Health (SDOH)
Living
Personal
Health Equity Committee at Houston Methodist
The Health Equity Committee’s mission is to outline and develop the strategies necessary to address and work toward eliminating health disparities to ensure we are paying special attention to the unique characteristics and backgrounds of each community we serve. The committee also works to make sure all patients receive the best health care at Houston Methodist.
Comprised of three subcommittees — Social Drivers of Health, Health Parity/Continuum of Care and Multi-Visit Patient — members are leaders from across the Houston Methodist system who examine and address specific health indicators that impact patient care, and work to mitigate their effects.
Social Drivers of Health (SDOH) Subcommittee
The SDOH subcommittee uses a health tool in Houston Methodist’s electronic medical record system, Epic, to work with all Houston Methodist entities to better understand the underlying causes of poor health impacting the organization’s patient population and community.
Epic is a digital system that allows health care institutions to manage and share patient medical records. This tool allows caregivers to collect all demographic, diagnostic, SDOH and insurance information to facilitate the development of metrics, such as the number of days between emergency department visits and discharge, and the patient’s follow-up appointments.
Ensuring Quality of Care
The Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting Specifications Manual was developed in 2023 by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to create a uniform set of quality measures to enable the public to compare quality of care offered by providers. It also encourages providers to continually evaluate and improve their outpatient and emergency department care.
Health Parity/Continuum of Care Subcommittee
By identifying and measuring current disparities, this subcommittee focuses on recognizing gaps and barriers in key areas to improve parity of access for underserved groups provided by Houston Methodist Specialty Physician Group and Houston Methodist Primary Care Group, along with behavioral health physicians, preventive screenings, urgent and emergency care, and continuum of care resources.
$100,000 GRANT from American Cancer Society
The subcommittee’s efforts to review data surrounding SDOH and how those factors impact screening for colon cancer and completion of colonoscopy was boosted by a grant to increase education and awareness regarding the importance of screenings and follow-up care.
Multi-Visit Patient (MVP) Subcommittee
Addressing the needs of multi-visit patients (MVP) — patients who make multiple visits to emergency departments at health care institutions across the Houston area — is this subcommittee’s primary mission. To improve care for these patients, the MVP subcommittee uses data integration and collaboration between Memorial Hermann Hospital, Harris Health and Houston Methodist, along with social service community agencies, to reduce avoidable emergency department utilization.
Members are developing a shared MVP care record, a live, cross-system registry of vulnerable patients with prospective point-of-care functionality to identify, notify, assess and engage with collaborating organizations to develop a harmonized patient care plan.
“When we share the same care plan with providers that has a consistent script in a compassionate manner, our patients eventually know that we see them as individuals,” said subcommittee chair Dr. Benjamin Saldaña, medical director of Houston Methodist Emergency Care Centers.
The subcommittee is gathering data on more than 150 patients who frequently visit several health care facilities around the Houston area. The system calls for notifying emergency room caregivers across the region via Epic when one of these patients arrives at a collaborating facility. Caregivers then access the prescribed care plan for the patient so their specific needs can be addressed immediately, which may reduce the likelihood of a future visit to another facility.
Health Equity Committee Video Series
This video series features leaders and subcommittee members who discuss the goals, strategies and achievements of those working to remove barriers to health care.
Visit houstonmethodist.org/dei-video-insights or scan the QR code to view the video series.
20+ emergency visits annually by each MVP
MVPs average more than 20 emergency department visits per year and over-use hospital admissions. Drivers of utilization include lack of primary and mental health care as well as social resources (e.g., homelessness, substance abuse).
Health Equity for Everyone
Revised Transgender Patient Policy
Houston Methodist developed a policy in 2016 on considerations for patients of all gender identities, called Care of the Transgender Patient. This policy reinforced the importance of accommodating any patient preference while focusing on delivering proper and necessary medical care.
In 2023, the policy was reviewed by a cross-system collaboration involving members of our LGBTQ+ Allies employee resource group, the DEI team, Human Resources and Houston Methodist physicians who specialize in gender-affirming procedures. The policy was revised to incorporate updated guidance and resources from the Human Rights Campaign and Lambda Legal. The revised policy went into effect in June 2024, providing guidance on an expanded group of patients that includes our transgender and nonbinary patients.
Additional revisions include:
• Epic functionality to record patients’ sex assigned at birth, gender identity, and preferred names and pronouns
• Guidance for clinical staff regarding physical exams and hormone replacement therapy
• Helpful definitions for “sex assigned at birth” and “nonbinary”
DEFINITIONS
Sexual orientation: The sex(es) or gender(s) to whom a person is emotionally, physically, sexually and/or romantically attracted (i.e., gay, lesbian, bisexual, heterosexual, asexual, pansexual, queer, etc.)
Sexual Orientation Gender Identity (SOGI) Data Collection
In alignment with the revised policy, Houston Methodist’s Epic tool has been updated to allow clinical and registration staff to record pertinent sexual orientation gender identity (SOGI) information from patients, including sex assigned at birth, gender identity, sexual orientation, and preferred names and pronouns.
Collecting accurate, culturally appropriate data gives providers the opportunity to build stronger, more compassionate relationships with their patients, while also equipping them with the tools needed to identify potential health disparities and ensure treatment decisions are made based on essential information for all patients.
For some of our patients, these decisions may include providing appropriate preventive screenings, assessments of risk for sexually transmitted diseases, discussing equal recognition for LGBTQ+ parents, or offering effective interventions for behavioral health concerns.
A 2002 National Institutes of Health survey revealed that many patients recognize the value of these questions. The survey of 1,516 patients and 429 providers found that while approximately 80% of providers thought patients would refuse to answer SOGI questions, only 10% of patients said they actually would refuse to answer.
Gender identity: A person’s innermost concept of self as male, female, a blend of both or neither, and how they refer to themselves; this can be the same or different from their sex assigned at birth
Sex assigned at birth: The sex (male, female, intersex) assigned to a child at birth, most often based on the child’s external anatomy
Beginning in July 2023, Houston Methodist caregivers were given guidance on enhancing patient SOGI information collection. This effort is showing positive results. Through the first six months of 2024, during all clinical patient encounters, caregivers collected information on patient gender identity 30% of the time, an improvement over the 17% capture rate in 2023. Caregivers collected information related to sexual orientation 22% of the time in 2024, compared to an 18% rate the year prior. While these trends are improving, work remains to ensure we are capturing this vital information that can help lead to improved patient outcomes.
“Gaining a more thorough understanding of our patients’ needs is the key to creating an environment where all patients can benefit from fair treatment and opportunities that can change lives,” said Dr. Nicholas Desai, vice president and chief operating officer at Houston Methodist Cypress Hospital.
Source: KFF Survey, April 2024
Research has repeatedly shown that when patients are treated kindly, respectfully and compassionately, they feel empowered to participate in their care, which leads to better patient outcomes. Our understanding of each patient’s unique story — their cultural heritage, beliefs and life experiences — impacts their treatment needs and has a direct influence on their safety and quality of care.
— Shlomit Schaal, MD Executive Vice President, Chief Physician Officer, Houston Methodist Physician Organization
Striving for Equity Across Our Community
Houston Methodist delivers unparalleled, personalized care and service through fair treatment, access, and opportunity for health care and health improvement for all patients. We strive to identify and eliminate barriers to health optimization for all populations we serve, such as addressing SDOH and working to provide health equity for all populations. This section provides a look at systemwide and campus-specific initiatives intended to remove barriers to health care access.
Building Accessibility from the Ground Up
As its scheduled 2025 opening nears, leadership at Houston Methodist Cypress Hospital is proactive in ensuring accessibility to services, as well as treatment and waiting areas, for every patient and guest population.
Because details matter in access to services, the hospital installed furniture that is of the proper height and includes chairs that are equipped with arms to assist those with reduced mobility in returning to a standing position. In the Houston Methodist Breast Care Center at Cypress, wider furnishings, including love seats, have been installed to improve ease of access and convenience for patients and guests.
Specialized Case Management
The case management department at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital assists uninsured patients in getting access to IV antibiotics and provides personal care homes for post-acute care recovery for uninsured patients.
At Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital, the outpatient case management navigator serves as a dedicated case manager and advocate who contacts discharged patients to identify and resolve post-discharge challenges, including access issues, transportation obstacles and medication costs. Since its inception in February 2024, the navigator has assisted 60 patients with post-discharge needs, with 25% of patients requesting assistance in getting an appointment with a primary care physician, and 17% needing help with transportation to medical appointments. Other frequent requests include seeking access to governmental aids (16%), resolving issues around lack of family support (16%), mental health support (11%) and addressing housing issues (7%).
Innovative Health Care Clinics
The OBGYN Residency Clinic, a specialized facility managed by medical residents and supported by pharmacy residents, is scheduled to open in 2025 at Houston Methodist Willowbrook. It is intended to improve access to primary care visits and follow-up services for underrepresented patients. The hospital is also planning to open a transition clinic supported by nurse practitioners and ambulatory care pharmacists to support patients who are having difficulty gaining access to primary care follow-up after a hospital admission. Its goal is to help reduce readmissions and support patients confronted with medication management issues.
DEFINITION
Underrepresented population: According to the National Institutes of Health, this refers to a group of the population whose representation is disproportionately low relative to their numbers in the general population, or in the case of clinical trials or patient registries, disease population. The subgroup may be identified by race, ethnicity, age, sex, gender, socioeconomic status or other demographics.
Community Resources
Opened in 2024, Cook Family Health Education and Learning (HEAL) at Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital offers free services and resources to support the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of patients who have received a serious or life-altering diagnosis, as well as those of their caregivers and families, in a warm, comforting environment. Services are centered on three areas:
• Prevention — Cooking, yoga, tai-chi, meditation and wellness courses
• Navigation — Coordination with care navigators and support groups (including caretakers)
• Rejuvenation — Wig fittings and stylings, oncology massages and cosmetic services for cancer patients
Since its February opening, nearly 1,000 community members have participated in program offerings, led by 297 participants in the HEAL Circle’s suite of services that includes diabetes, breast cancer, epilepsy and stroke support groups.
The Katy/West Houston Collaborative, a monthly meeting of nonprofit charitable organizations hosted by Houston Methodist West Hospital, discusses resources available to underserved patients. These resources involve numerous services, including food distribution, housing assistance, and free HIV screenings, mammograms and flu shots. The collaborative also hosted a Diabetes Awareness Expo in November 2024.
Participating agencies include Christ Clinic, Spring Branch Clinic, The Rose, Hope Impact, Access Health, PowerHouse Church, Katy Christian Ministries, Depelchin Children's Center, The Source and Texas Children's Clinic, among others.
HEAL grand opening at Houston Methodist The Woodlands
Women’s Health and Perinatal Care
To help ease the burden that many new mothers face, the Houston Methodist Childbirth Center at West offers home blood pressure cuffs for new moms who have been diagnosed with pre-eclampsia and are at significant risk of hypertensive crisis in the postpartum period. Through the first half of 2024, 100 blood pressure monitors were provided.
In partnership with the pre-admit testing unit, the Childbirth Center welcomes women back within one week postpartum for blood pressure checks. The center also has a referral partnership with Hope Clinic for higher risk, uninsured hypertensive patients who require close follow-up.
New moms may also receive equipment such as a portable sleep-and-play unit and breast pump if they cannot afford to purchase one on their own.
100 blood pressure monitors provided 212 breast pumps given 728 delivery referrals made
Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders can affect not only new parents, but caregivers as well. Houston Methodist The Woodlands helps women, their families and their support systems navigate preconception, pregnancy, postpartum and beyond. Services include suicide prevention awareness, individual and family counseling and therapy sessions, and new mom support groups.
Obstetrician hospitalists at Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital provide labor and delivery care for patients from underserved populations who have received their prenatal care at Baytown-area Legacy Community Health Service clinics. As the only full-service health care facility in the region offering obstetric hospitalist care for Legacy patients, Houston Methodist Baytown physicians provide 24/7 care for patients who do not have a primary obstetrician. In 2023, 728 delivery referrals were made for Legacy patients.
Improved Mental Health Patient Outcomes
The mental health assessment team (MAT) at Houston Methodist Baytown was created in 2014 to improve care for psychiatric patients admitted into the hospital’s emergency department. The team is comprised of professionals experienced in providing care and services for patients from underrepresented groups who may lack access to outpatient psychiatric care due to a variety of SDOH factors. During triage, physicians diagnose patients who may need psychiatric treatment.
Through the first six months of 2024, MAT specialists provided care for 717 emergency department patients in need of immediate psychiatric care.
The Houston Methodist System Behavioral Health Support Center’s mental health care post-discharge program, launched in 2016, provides services such as telemedicine home visits, assistance with medication refills, and connections with community partners to help patients manage their recovery and avoid readmission.
“The hospital-to-home transition marks an abrupt shift from provider-driven care to self-managed care, which often leads to readmissions for patients who are uncertain in the management of their health conditions,” said nurse practitioner Heather Chung, director of System Behavioral Health Transitions in Care at Houston Methodist. “Our mental health program catches patients and navigates them in bridging the gap in post-discharge care.”
The program features specialized social workers who conduct motivational interviewing of patients to “peel the onion” in a nonjudgmental way, stripping away the stigma around mental illness and recommending appropriate clinical interventions.
“Mental illness is a marker for many chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease and obesity,” Chung said. “For example, a patient struggling with issues that may be related to obesity, such as reduced mobility and low self-esteem, may not be inclined to exercise regularly, which may lead to weight gain that can trigger depression.”
Improved Outcomes
Inpatient (IP) Readmission Rate
Emergency Department (ED) Revisit Rate All
HOSPITAL COMMUNITY
HOME
PATIENT CARE TRANSITION
We still have a lot of work to do, but the advantages of having a diverse workforce are clear. When you have people from different backgrounds and cultures, they provide unique perspectives and tools that help your organization solve problems, succeed and grow.
— Andrew Hu, MD Professor of Cancer Biology in Medicine, Assistant Director for Cancer Research Training Education Coordination, Houston Methodist
Workplace Equity
Creating a culture that values and respects all employees is not easy to achieve. The DEI Council of the Houston Methodist Academic Institute and Houston Methodist Neal Cancer Center is focused on fostering a culture where all trainees and faculty engaged in cancer research feel that their voices are heard and their backgrounds and experiences are important.
The council’s education subcommittee helps to increase diversity and inclusion in the recruitment and new-hire onboarding process. “Diversity in the health care workforce, including trainees, brings a variety of perspectives, cultural competencies and problem-solving approaches that enhance the quality of care provided to all patients,” said Stephen L. Jones, MD, director of the Center for Health Data Science and Analytics at the Houston Methodist Research Institute.
The council’s efforts extend to creating an environment of inclusivity after trainees and faculty become part of the clinical team. They have discarded a “one-size-fits-all” approach, instead providing targeted information that addresses how the trainee’s specific career development needs are impacted by their background, traditions and beliefs.
“The efforts fostered by the Academic Institute and Cancer Center subcommittee are paramount in our organization embracing diversity, equity and inclusion at every level of the education continuum,” said subcommittee executive sponsor Trevor Burt, EdD, chief education officer of the Academic Institute and vice president of system education.
Their initiatives are making a difference in bridging education gaps between recruiters and trainees, and are evaluated and refined continually.
Improving Access for Liver Transplant Patients
The Houston Methodist J.C. Walter Jr. Transplant Center has built a reputation as one of the premier liver transplant programs in the country. A 2021 review by the transplant center’s leadership revealed that the program was underserving the Hispanic community in South Texas.
The team developed an ongoing community outreach program in which representatives make quarterly educational and awareness visits to Corpus Christi, Brownsville and other Rio Grande Valley communities identified with a high prevalence of fatty liver disease and liver cancer. The visits provide opportunities for conversations with providers, Nueces County Medical Society officials, patients and family members.
“We realized that the disparity in the number of Hispanic patients we were treating was caused in large part by a language barrier, an absence of insurance coverage and a lack of awareness about our transplant services,” said Dr. Sudha Kodali, director of the Hepatocellular Carcinoma Program at the Transplant Center. “We’re addressing this by going into the community and spreading more education and awareness about what our center offers for physicians, patients and their families.”
20% INCREASE
in Hispanic transplant patients being referred to Houston Methodist since the Transplant Center’s South Texas outreach program began
Houston Methodist’s Charity Care and Community Benefits Programs
All Houston Methodist campuses offer a charity care program to serve patients who are financially and/or medically indigent.
In 2023, Houston Methodist provided $436 million in charity care that includes direct care for medically and financially indigent patients, government-sponsored indigent care, and help funded by Houston Methodist at charity clinics and federally qualified health centers across Houston.
In addition, Houston Methodist campuses offer supportive programs for financially indigent community members, such as the Network of Care program, which helps patients find a primary care doctor to receive preventive care and treatment for chronic diseases. Houston Methodist also supports the community through grants programs — including the DEI Grant Program — in-kind donations and activities, educational programs, and research. These programs totaled more than $1.8 billion in charity care and community benefits by Houston Methodist in 2023.
$1.8 BILLION charity care and community benefits in 2023
Medically Indigent Patient: Individuals whose medical bills occupy a significant portion of their income and threaten their household’s financial health
Financially Indigent Patient: Individuals whose household incomes fall below a certain percentage of the Federal Poverty Line.
DEI and Social Equity Grant Programs
In 2024, Houston Methodist committed nearly $4.5 million to 44 Houstonarea organizations through its DEI Grant Program.
“More than 52,000 people will receive assistance this year thanks to Houston Methodist’s DEI grants,” said Dr. Marc Boom, president and CEO at Houston Methodist. “The DEI and Social Equity Grant Programs are tackling the root causes of health disparities.”
Since the program launched four years ago, Houston Methodist has funded a total of 89 unique organizations. Each year, over 100,000 people in our community receive assistance through these funded programs.
“The funding has been able to seed some amazing new programs, grow established programs, and sustain work that provides for some of the most vulnerable members of our community,” said Jill Campbell, director of the Houston Methodist Community Benefits Department.
One example is the funding helping to sustain The Montrose Center’s Law Herrington Senior Living Center’s program, which supports independent living residences for low-income, LGBTQ+-identifying seniors who are 62 and older.
“It’s not just a place to live,” said Ann Robinson, director of the Law Herrington Center. “It’s a community. For some residents, it’s the first place they’ve lived that they feel proud of.”
The center has helped to provide hope and reshape the lives of many of its residents.
"As soon as I found out about it, I knew this was the place for me,” said resident Jereme Scott. “I knew there’d be a lot of gay people moving in here and a lot of HIV-positive people would move in too. That gave me a sense of community I had not had in a long time.”
Funds from the Social Equity Grant assist the Avenue organization in guiding new home buyers by providing affordable housing and financial counseling services.
“The housing counselor guided me through the entire process of what was a very unusual, complicated and somewhat traumatic process with my lender,” said Avenue client Kristine Kocan.
Further, DEI grant recipient West Houston Assistance Ministries (WHAM) transforms lives from crisis to self-sufficiency by providing healthy food, financial support, housing, and medical and educational resources. For example, “Rhonda” was a homeless person fleeing from her abuser and contacted WHAM for support. They referred her for counseling and helped her find shelter. Eventually, she secured a full-time job.
GRANT YEAR 1 (2021-22) GRANT YEAR 2 (2022-23) GRANT YEAR 3 (2023-24) GRANT YEAR 4 (2024-25)
$2,376,072
$4,633,135 $5,258,894 $5,016,800
89 Unique Agencies (4-year total) SPEND Projected
Employee Resource Groups: Making a Difference
Employee Resource Groups, or ERGs, are employee-created and led voluntary groups that are formed based on common interests, backgrounds or demographics to help create a diverse and inclusive workplace.
ERG Events
Many of Houston Methodist’s ERGs host events and programs each year that encourage systemwide employee engagement. Several of these events focus on improving health equity through discussing health care access and patient and provider education.
The LGBTQIA Health Awareness Discussion
Dr. Natalie Vanek, medical director at Legacy Community Health Montrose Clinic, examined commonly missed health considerations in direct care for the LGBTQIA community. The discussions offered guidelines and best practices for providing respectful and culturally appropriate care.
Maternal Child Health Seminar
The seminar focused on causes of disparities in preterm birth rates in women of color and ways to eliminate inequities in health care access. It also offered best practices, such as using the CARES Framework, which emphasizes the importance of developing trusting therapeutic relationships with patients and their families, and cultural humility to mitigate implicit bias and structural racism from limiting access to care.
The Invisible Effect Medical Notes Could Have on Care Discussions
Houston Methodist palliative care physician Dr. Phylliss Chappell examined how implicit bias, unconscious judgements and stigmatizing language in patient notes can leave a paper trail that may impact patient care.
ERGs in the Community
As part of Houston Methodist’s I CARE in Action employee volunteer program, ERG members contribute hundreds of volunteer hours each year to help Houston-area organizations and programs that promote and support improving access to health care and social services.
In recent years, members volunteered with 14 organizations dedicated to improving health equity by addressing areas such as food insecurity, housing, education, social support and services, and lack of recreation/ exercise opportunities:
• Aids Walk Houston
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Houston
• DePelchin Children’s Center
• Habitat for Humanity
• Houston Children’s Charity
• Houston Food Bank
• Legacy Community Health/The Montrose Center
• Medical Bridges
• Nora’s Home
• Northwest Ministries/Meals on Wheels
• Pride Houston 365 Parade
• Rebuilding Together Houston
• The Rose
• Wesley Community Center
584 VOLUNTEER HOURS served by ERG members over the past two years
4,832 MEALS PREPARED by Houston Methodist volunteers in one day at the Houston Food Bank
58 MEALS DELIVERED to homebound seniors and adults with disabilities during Northwest Ministries/ Meals on Wheels volunteer day
The Path Forward
We are encouraged by the progress we’ve made around health equity that further enhances our I CARE values to create a more equitable and inclusive environment for all. But the road to truly achieving greatness cannot be accomplished through the work of one person or department alone.
It must involve the collective work of all of us, no matter our role within the organization. Acquiring knowledge and accurate data will play a pivotal role in connecting with others to understand not only what success looks like, but what each of us needs to do to help move the needle.
As we look to the path forward, we will continue to use data as our guide to help understand our patients and the needs of our employees better. This data will also be vital in our quest to educate patients and employees, and continue to create partnerships and programs that will benefit everyone.
Ensuring health equity and equitable treatment for all is not based on race, beliefs, gender or sexual orientation. It is achieved only when every person is given the knowledge and resources they need to succeed.
At Houston Methodist, we are making the decision to not just accept an imperfect health care system that has been handed to us. We must roll up our sleeves, get in the dirt and fix it.
— Shawn Tittle, MD
Senior
Vice President and System Chief Quality Officer, Houston Methodist
Message from the CEO
Before we can identify the barriers that may prevent some people from getting the excellent care they deserve, we must first identify those factors that may create barriers. The Health Equity Committee at Houston Methodist is on the front lines of identifying these circumstances that can encompass a variety of things. The committee’s mission is to ensure that our patients’ ages, races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender identities, physical or mental disabilities, and socioeconomic statuses do not become a barrier to achieving optimal health.
Determining and addressing these indicators are not easy things to do. We must be diligent in our pursuit and lead with compassion. We seek to identify and find solutions to barriers that prevent equitable access to health care because they reinforce Houston Methodist’s mission of providing unparalleled safety, quality, service and innovation to every patient we serve.
Marc L. Boom, MD President, Chief Executive Officer, Houston Methodist
Scan the QR code or visit houstonmethodist.org/dei to learn more.