At ZSFG, we believe everyone should have a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible. Equity is different from equality: People with the greatest needs and fewest resources require more support to equalize opportunities and health outcomes.
Our goals are to address ongoing concerns about health disparities for San Francisco’s populations of color and create an anti-racism environment where all members of our community feel valued:
We are reviewing health outcomes to identify disparities and designing interventions to eliminate these inequities.
We are giving our staff the tools to build a culture of equity, inclusion, and belonging.
CURRENT EXAMPLES OF HEALTH DIFFERENCES
COVID-19 and its impact on the Latinx community
In San Francisco, there is a higher rate of COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and death within the Latino/a/x and Black/African American communities.
- 15% of the population of San Francisco is Latino/a/x
- 50% of all Covid-19 cases in San Francisco are from the Latino/a/x population
- 70% of cases treated at ZSFG are Latino/a/x
Advancing Equity Strategic Plan
ZSFG’s Advancing Equity Strategic Plan focuses on three areas:
- Reducing health disparities for our patients
- Ensuring equitable experiences for our workforce
- Advancing an overall culture of equity, inclusion, and anti-racism
We are implementing this strategy through the following initiatives:
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Patient & Community Engagement
Building mechanisms for feedback from underserved patients and community members on equity and inclusion efforts.
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Communications
Increasing external and internal communication regarding ZSFG’s DEI efforts and opportunities for staff to participate.
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Workforce Equity
Reviewing and modifying hiring, promotion, and retention policies and practices to ensure equitable treatment and to build a workforce that reflects the patient population and community demographics.
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Workplace Culture
Providing resources and training to support managers, supervisors, and staff to create inclusive and equitable workplace cultures.
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Health Equity
Increasing support for departments to incorporate equity “drivers” into their performance improvement efforts.
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Equity Leadership
Investing in ZSFG staff as equity and inclusion leaders across the hospital.
The ZSFG Equity Council
In 2017, ZSFG established an Equity Council with hospital leaders, front-line staff, and clinicians to empower our community to eliminate inequities and promote inclusion.
The Equity Council advises and supports ZSFG’s Department of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) and the overall organization on DEI matters. As an influential and collective voice, the Equity Council holds ZSFG Executive Leadership and the ZSFG DEI Department accountable in leading the ZSFG community in dismantling institutional and structural racism and building a culture of equity, respect, and inclusion.
The Equity Council is led by Co-Chairs Andrea Turner and Tanvi Bhakta.
Equity Council Members
Ana Delgado
Assistant Director, Inpatient Obstetrics
Andrea Turner
Chief Operating Officer
Andrew Tran
Physical Therapist, Rehabilitation
Bilal Chaney
Radiology Care Navigator, Radiology
Brenda Barros
Chief Clerk, Patient Access
Byron Decuire
Respiratory Therapist, Anesthesia
Elizabeth Lynch
Positive Health Nurse, Ward 86
Gabriel Ortiz
Medical Director, Medical/Surgical Care
Jeff Critchfield
Medical Director, Risk Management; Chief Medical Experience Officer
Jenson Wong
Director of Anesthesia Quality Improvement, Anesthesia
Lydia Leung
Medical Director, Family Health center
Monica Bien
Physician Assistant, Hematology-Oncology/4C Infusion Center
Rosaly Ferrer
Nursing Director, Specialty Care
Tanvi Bhakta
Nurse Manager, Medical/Surgical Care
Tess Marstaller
Risk Manager, Quality Management
Will Huen
Associate Chief Medical Officer; Medical Director, Quality Management and Kaizen Promotion Office