Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging at EHS
Episcopal Health Services is committed to fostering an equitable, inclusive, and welcoming environment where patients, team members, visitors, and business partners from all backgrounds are included, valued, and respected.
We believe our workforce and patient care are directly connected and that our diversity makes us stronger, smarter, and better able to serve our community compassionately and effectively. We strive to embed diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging into our culture’s fabric, with health equity at its center.
Our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commitment
Making EHS an inclusive and welcoming healthcare space where everyone can work, seek care, and receive service with dignity, civility, and respect.
- Building a supportive and compassionate healthcare space for each team member, patient, and all the communities that we serve.
- Doing our part to help combat racism and all forms of bias, microaggressions, discrimination, and other inappropriate behaviors within Episcopal Health Services.
- Continuing to build organizational practices that support recruitment and retention of a diverse and inclusive workforce, increasing diversity in leadership roles, career growth opportunities for team members, educational initiatives, and community-focused care.
- Acknowledging the root causes of health disparities for patients and actively pursuing equity in health, care, and service, to the Far Rockaway Peninsula and surrounding communities.
- Delivering culturally competent care and service to our patients and team members and working to improve affordability and access to care.
- Recognizing the unique set of identities and experiences every team member has–and using this to make Episcopal Health Services a more inclusive place where we link our organization’s mission, vision, and values to people’s everyday lives.
DIEB Executive Advisory Group
The Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Executive Advisory Group serve as trusted advisors, provide oversight, expertise, guidance, business, and institutional knowledge to the Chief Diversity Officer and the DEIB Council. Members of the Executive Advisory Group serve as visible and vocal champions for the EHS diversity strategy and initiative.
DIEB Council Mission
The DEIB Council is the driving force in the system’s ongoing transformation into a model of excellence for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. The Council will support the Office of Diversify, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging to build and foster a learning and inclusive environment where team members, patients, and visitors are treated with dignity, civility and respect. Advocating for opportunities and support for all team members will be a primary focus.
DEIB Strategic Pillars
At EHS, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging guides us in delivering high-quality patient outcomes and experiences for all patients and a welcoming and inclusive environment for our team members. We provide and advance health equity delivery by aligning EHS’ missions, visions, and ICARE values, creating opportunities for internal and external collaborations and partnerships to address social determinants of health, mitigating unconscious bias and microaggressions, and eliminating discrimination. Our strategic plan is built upon five pillars:
- Patient [Person and Family-Centered Care]
Our first pillar is our patients. By focusing directly on our patients, we recognize how incredibly diverse our patient population is and how important it is to use their perspectives to improve care. Implementing culturally and linguistically appropriate Patient and Family Care are central to patient safety and outcomes. To ensure culturally responsive care, we will implement and monitor cultural competency training among all team members and clinicians. - Team Members
As the only health system on the Rockaway Peninsula, we focus on building a diverse workforce of talented and motivated team members who provide the most effective person and family-centered care. - Community Partnerships
Episcopal Health Services is committed to health equity, reducing and ultimately eliminating disparities in health and its determinants, including social determinants. Social factors like neighborhood, education, social supports, and access to healthcare are examples of social determinants. At its core, health equity means striving for the highest possible standard of health for all people, which includes providing special attention to the needs of the people who have been historically excluded and marginalized. - Inclusive Leadership and Governance
Inclusion is a leadership competency, a change management strategy, a way to enhance well-being and ultimately strengthen our organizational culture. Building a diverse perspective by focusing on equity and inclusion brings all talent to the table. - Data
The identification, collection, and monitoring of data include but are not limited to patients’ social needs [food insecurity, housing stability, transportation, education, social support, financial stability, employment, physical safety, and other measures] is critical for the determining the healthcare gaps and health equity of the community that we serve. In addition, enhanced emphasis and awareness of the importance of data collection and reducing gaps in demographics associated with sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI), race, and ethnicity for patients and Team Members is vital for improving the quality of care for all patients and our community as well as supporting team members.