When you hear health equity, what comes to mind? Probably access to healthcare, racial disparities, and the social determinants of health. And while these are critical, they’re just a part of the story. A whole world of equity issues don’t always make it into boardroom conversations or community forums—but they should.
At Connected Consultants, we’re committed to not just riding the wave of popular equity topics but also exploring the deeper waters. And while we aren’t experts in these areas yet, we are doctoral-prepared professionals who know how to dig in, ask the right questions, and connect the dots.
Here are some of the health equity gaps we’re setting our sights on:
🌍 Economic Justice as Health Equity
Economic stability, living wages, and affordable housing are just as crucial to health equity as access to medical care. Poverty isn’t just an economic issue—it’s a public health crisis. Financial stress affects mental and physical health, and addressing economic justice is foundational to achieving health equity.
🌾 Rural Health Disparities
While urban healthcare inequities get a lot of attention, rural communities often struggle with unique challenges—like limited access to providers, transportation issues, and digital divides that make telehealth inaccessible. It’s time to bring these issues to the forefront.
🏳️🌈 Beyond Race: True Intersectionality
Health equity conversations often focus on race and ethnicity, but what about the intersections with disability, LGBTQIA+ status, immigration, or socioeconomic status? People don’t live single-issue lives, and our equity work can’t be single-issue either.
🧠 Mental Health Equity
The conversation often skews toward physical health disparities, but what about mental health? There’s a need for more culturally responsive mental health services, better access in underserved communities, and intentional work to reduce mental health stigma.
🌎 The Impact of Environmental Racism
Access to clean air, safe water, and green spaces might not always be included in health equity conversations, but they absolutely should be. Marginalized communities are often disproportionately impacted by environmental hazards, leading to chronic health issues and shortened lifespans.
📊 Data Equity and Privacy
With the rise of digital health solutions, data equity is a growing concern. Who’s being represented in the data? Who’s being left out? And how is that data being used? These questions are critical to ensuring health interventions truly serve those who need them most.
🏥 Workplace Equity in Healthcare
We can’t talk about health equity for patients without addressing equity within healthcare organizations themselves. Leadership diversity, pay equity, and creating inclusive workplace cultures directly influence the quality of care provided and the trust communities have in healthcare systems.
🚨 Health Equity in Emergency Preparedness
Natural disasters, pandemics, and emergencies disproportionately affect marginalized communities. It’s not enough to respond with blanket solutions—we need preparedness and response plans designed with equity at their core.
💼 Policy as a Lever for Health Equity
Healthcare policy is essential, but so are policies around housing, transportation, education, and more. These broader policies can create or dismantle health inequities, and we need to approach them with an equity lens.
👩🏾🦳 Equity for Caregivers
The often unpaid, underappreciated work of caregiving—typically done by women, especially women of color—has significant implications for economic stability, mental health, and generational health outcomes.
Where Do We Go From Here?
Over the coming months, Connected Consultants will dive deeper into these topics, explore the connections, and share what we learn. We’re ready to ask tough questions, challenge assumptions, and push for health equity—not as a box to check but as a way of doing business.
We'd love to learn from you if you have insights, resources, or experiences on these topics. Drop a comment, share a resource, or shoot me a message. Let’s keep pushing for equity—on every front.
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