Advancing Health Equity: Committed to Care for All

Our Commitment to Health Equity

Health Equity is core to our Mission at St. Mary’s Healthcare. We believe all persons deserve equitable care by ensuring our community has a fair and just opportunity to achieve their highest level of health, regardless of their social status or circumstances, by addressing health disparities and social determinants of health.

Addressing Health Disparities

Health disparities refer to differences in health outcomes and access to healthcare that are often influenced by factors like race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, geographic location, level of education, and disability. Here’s how we are working to reduce these disparities:

Cultural Competency and Diversity Training

• We provide cultural competency training to our staff, which includes doctors, nurses, care providers, and support staff. This helps them better understand the cultural, social, and language needs of diverse patient populations.
• Training also includes understanding implicit bias and how it can affect decision-making, patient-provider relationships, and overall care.

 Language Services

• We provide translation and interpretation services to patients who do not speak English. This can include bilingual staff, professional interpreters, or use of the LanguageLine phone and video services. This ensures effective communication between patients and healthcare providers.
• We also offer written materials in multiple languages, including consent forms, patient instructions, and health education materials.

Health Equity Committee

• Our multi-disciplinary Health Equity Committee monitors and assesses health disparities, develops strategies to improve care for marginalized groups, and ensures that health equity is integrated into the hospital’s mission and strategic plan.

Community Outreach and Engagement

• We engage in outreach efforts to build trust within our community. We partner with community organizations, providing health education, and conduct cancer screenings for those who are uninsured through the Cancer Services Program of Fulton, Montgomery and Schenectady counties.
• We host a variety of community education and outreach programs
• We have an active Patient and Family Advisory Council, in which we seek input from patients and family members in order to improve safety, quality and overall experience at St. Mary’s Healthcare.
• Participate in community events throughout the year in an effort to connect and educate community members about our services.
• Each year, we award community-based organizations with micro-grants through our Carondelet Community Fund.

For any questions on health equity, please contact Margaret Brodie, vice president of mission advancement and patient experience.