The Institute for Health Equity, a Part of Norton Healthcare, was established in 2020 to foster an enriching, supportive and inclusive environment where all patients are able to thrive and have equitable opportunities to health care. The institute’s mission is to address inequities and social determinants of health with a data-driven approach to meet the needs of the patient by mitigating the barriers that may prevent reaching and sustaining full health potential. From the lens of population health, the institute is partnering with Norton Research Institute to impact systemic change as it relates to health equity. By analyzing internal, local and national data we’ll work together to streamline an organizational focus on the primary chronic health diseases that affect our patient population. The institute is focused on streamlining care through standardized protocols and individualized care plans to improve patient outcomes and eliminate care obstacles.
The Food as Medicine program was developed in response to growing concerns about food insecurity and its impact on chronic diseases in children. Funded by the Norton Children’s Hospital Foundation, the program is a collaborative effort between the clinical teams at Norton Children’s and Norton Healthcare, and Norton Healthcare Belonging & Health Equity. As a support partner to clinical care teams, Norton Healthcare Belonging & Health Equity focuses on eliminating health disparities and improving access to essential resources for families. The Food as Medicine program aims to teach families how to use healthy food as part of a holistic care plan for managing health conditions such as diabetes while living a healthier, better life.
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At Norton Healthcare, belonging starts with understanding, and understanding starts with communication. We are proud to offer dedicated language services to our limited-English proficient (LEP) and deaf/hard of hearing patients, helping to ensure that our patients and their families feel heard, respected and included.
We offer community health workers within the Norton Healthcare patient care team to bridge, navigate, advocate for, provide direct support to and cultivate patients for overall health and wellness.
As defined by the American Public Health Association, a community health worker is a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of and/or has a close understanding of the community they serve.
This trusting relationship enables community health workers to serve as liaisons between health and social services and the community to facilitate access to resources and improve the quality and cultural competence of care patients receive. Community health workers also work to increase patients’ health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as outreach, community education, informal counseling, social support and advocacy.
A doula is a trained, nonclinical caregiving professional who offers continuous physical, emotional and informational support throughout pregnancy, during labor and delivery, and during the postpartum period. Doula care focuses on building trusting and supportive relationships with expectant parents and providing them with information, guidance and resources, including assistance with creating their personalized birth plans.