The ongoing focus and actions on race in the United States has resulted in the healthcare community taking stock of its responsibilities and responses to inequity. Throughout the commonwealth and nation, healthcare interests addressed racial disparities in care, hiring practices, underserved communities, and other long-standing problems. To their credit, hospitals and the caregivers they employ do abide by a central tenet of treating everyone who comes though their doors with respect and with high-quality care. But it is clear much more must be done. Here are just a few voices on the issue:
1) Nurses outside of Brigham and Women’s Hospital knelt silently for 8 minutes and 46 seconds in honor of George Floyd, who was murdered by police in Minneapolis on May 25.
2) “Despite the rage and hatred that seems to be advancing in our country, Baystate Health can take a stand for something better. We can uphold our core values of respect, integrity, teamwork, and lifelong learning, which are every bit as important in our lives in our communities as they are in our work environments. I condemn what happened to George Floyd, as well as the attitudes that led up to it, as wrong and unacceptable for our community. I want us to ensure a safe place for everyone – a place where caring connections can be made, both for the good of our employees and the diverse communities we serve.” -- Mark Keroack, M.D., President & CEO, Baystate Health, in a letter to his community
3) “Recent events, including COVID, have shined a bright light on the structural racism and inequities that so many of our patients and colleagues confront every day. Boston Medical Center is a place of healing and, I hope, a beacon of comfort to the patients, families, and communities we serve. We would not be able to live our mission without having committed to understanding, engaging, and working to stop both the highly publicized tragedies and the day-to-day injustices. This always has and always will be central to our work at BMC. -- Kate Walsh, Boston Medical Center President & CEO, in a tweet about doing the work needed.
4) “Beth Israel Lahey Health stands in solidarity against racism & hate. We affirm our commitment to work together each day to constructively address disparities in our community & foster an inclusive culture. Our hearts go out to all who have been impacted by violence & injustice.” -- BILH’s June 1 tweet, which it followed with a blank post on #blackouttuesday
“Systemic racism is a sickness just as potent as the diseases we treat every day, and Massachusetts is not immune. MHA stands with those across the commonwealth who are raising their voices to deliver a critical message: Black Lives Matter. They are the voices of our patients, our caregivers, and our neighbors. We recognize that we must be a part of the solution. We are committed to using the very tenets our healthcare system is built upon - compassion, collaboration, and healing – to advocate for chronically underserved communities and act as conduits for change. Our members share a sacred responsibility to value every life, and we know that responsibility must extend beyond the walls of our hospitals and medical offices.” -- From MHA President & CEO Steve Walsh’s statement
6) “Continued acts of aggression and excessive force against African American communities, a result of unjust systemic inequities these communities face, cannot be tolerated. It is not one incident. Repeated acts, over time, have an insidious, devastating impact on individuals, families, and communities, directly impacting the attainment of well-being— both physically and mentally.” -- American Academy of Nurses statement released June 1.