hero-image
CELEBRATING OUR DIFFERENCES, PROMOTING OUR SHARED PURPOSE

The Office of Health Advocacy and Fairness

Equity, belonging and better health for all

Celebrating Our Differences, Promoting Our Shared Purpose

At LifeBridge Health, we recognize and celebrate the rich array of communities and cultures represented by our team members and patients. Fairness and equitable health outcomes are among LifeBridge Health’s top priorities and cardinal values. They underpin our continuous efforts to better support our patients, visitors and each other. To CARE BRAVELY is to stand up, stand out and stand together as we embrace both the richness of our differences and the power of our unity. 

Diverse women at a yoga class in the park

Our Mission and Vision

We know every LifeBridge Health team member and patient brings life experiences that can make connecting, healing or even seeking care challenging. In response, the Office of Health Advocacy and Fairness leads system-wide efforts to ensure every location is a safe, inclusive and empowering place to work, receive care and heal.

Vision

Our Strategy

We accomplish our goals by partnering with leaders, team members and volunteers across LifeBridge Health to:

  • Create policies and systems that ensure fairness and safety for all
  • Develop strategies that eliminate health disparities and make excellent care accessible to everyone
  • Deliver educational modules to intentionally expand our scope of knowledge
  • Foster healthy environments for both our team members and our patients

 

Employee Resource Groups

Our employee resource groups (ERGs) provide team members from various cultures with space to engage with their fellow community members, host events, advocate for change and engage in projects across the organization. ERGs are run by our team members and are open to all, regardless of identity or background. ERG leaders also get to work directly with a senior leader who serves as their executive sponsor.

 

Our growing list of ERGs include: 

  • Black Culture
  • Disabilities
  • Hispanic-Latino Network
  • Inclusive Clinical Learning Environment for Residents (ICLER)
  • Interfaith
  • LGBTQIA+
  • Pan-Asian
  • Veteran's Network

 

A few of the projects the ERGs have tackled include helping our international nurses acclimate to American culture, celebrating our employee and patient veterans, creating systems to ensure non-English-speaking team members can access important information in their preferred language and hosting educational lunch-and-learn sessions.

Health Advocacy and Fairness Councils

Several LifeBridge Health entities have Health Advocacy and Fairness Councils. These councils work in conjunction with the Office of Health Advocacy and Fairness to focus on specific projects that promote fairness. Examples include:

  • Completing health equity assessments and using the results to guide organizational processes
  • Reviewing company policies using a standardized tool to ensure fairness
  • Serving as a focus group to provide additional insight into company surveys, future plans and more

 

Executive Sponsors

All our councils and employee resource groups have executive sponsors who are members of the LifeBridge Health Executive Team, including some of our most senior leaders. They serve as mentors to our council and ERG chairs, aligning their work to the mission of the organization. They also support the endeavors of the groups and help make things happen! 

Partnering Teams

The Office of Health Advocacy and Fairness partners with all teams (clinical and non-clinical) across the health system to establish fairness as a structure at LifeBridge Health. We work closely with:

  • The Quality Department
  • Community Programs
  • Government Relations
  • Human Resources, including our Culture Team and Leadership Institute
  • Nursing leaders
  • The Simulation Center
  • LifeBridge Health Medical Group
  • Providers across the network
  • And more!

 

Awards

Our work has been recognized locally and nationally. Here are a few of the ways in which LifeBridge Health and our leaders have been recognized for our efforts to advocate for health and fairness for our team members, patients and community:

AWARDS

The Maryland Patient Safety Center honored Sinai Hospital for making a demonstrable difference in patient safety.

Awarded to:

  • Sinai Hospital
  • Northwest Hospital
AWARDS

Recognizes hospitals that have distinguished themselves through efforts to improve the health and well-being of everyone in their communities. 
Awarded to: LifeBridge Health 

AWARDS

The Baltimore Business Journal's Leaders in Diversity Awards recognize individuals in Greater Baltimore who are champions of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within their organizations and the wider community.

Awarded to: Dr. Sybil B. Pentsil, Chief Diversity Officer of LifeBridge Health

AWARDS

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Healthcare Equality Index honors facilities that have shown their commitment to LGBTQ+ patient-centered care and the equitable treatment and inclusion of their LGBTQ+ patients, visitors and employees.

Awarded to:

  • Sinai Hospital
  • Northwest Hospital
AWARDS

The James W. Rouse Excellence in Diversity Award is presented annually to one or more local organizations that best exemplifies a culture and environment of diversity and inclusion. The award is presented at CHRA's Annual Diversity Event.

Awarded to: LifeBridge Health