The Trustee Quarterly newsletter for Spring 2021 is now available, with the theme focusing on advancing healthier and more equitable communities. The latest issue highlights the sobering fact of health inequity that has been spotlighted through the pandemic. As a result, boards and senior leaders are deepening their commitment to advancing health equity. Included in the articles are valuable resources to help organizations focus on strong leadership as they face challenges and make difficult decisions.
Understanding health equity is a great place to start and a difficult place to start for many communities and systems. A study done twenty years ago from the Institute of Medicine urging a call of action to improve the American Health care system is outlined in this edition. It is an influential report, Crossing the Quality Chasm: A New Health System for the 21st Century, addressed six key dimensions in which our overall healthcare system functions at far lower levels than it should. Progress has been made in the past two decades, as outlined but there is still work to be done. Conducting a community health needs assessment is one suggestion brought forward in the article with tools on how to get started. In addition, there is a section regarding health equity and questions for Board consideration. It provides the framework for those in leadership positions to look at their own equity concerns and what questions they can ask themselves and their boards when moving forward with a strategic plan to address or improve health equity within their own system or community.
SDAHO provides input with up-to-date information on current health related legislation. State Lawmakers recently wrapped up the 2021 South Dakota Legislative session with several key pieces of legislation impacting the healthcare community. Helping our members understand the issues and mechanics behind newly created laws is a vital resource SDAHO provides. This past session the SDAHO advocacy team tracked over 114 healthcare related bills, a 56% increase from the 2020 legislative session. Several key pieces of legislation including the legalization of medical marijuana, telehealth, workforce needs, and vaccination debates are outlined in the latest newsletter. SDAHO’s education department is offering a variety of continued learning opportunities including an Executive Leadership Summit. This virtual summit is designed for executives, vice presidents, nurse leaders, directors, and managers.
To learn more about SDAHO’s Virtual Educational Series or to read the 2021 Trustee Newsletter in its entirety, visit us online: https://trustees.sdaho.org
