Health Equity
Advancing Health Equity
Through a bold and strategic plan and framework, Methodist Healthcare Ministries is committed to advancing health equity.
Our Commitment
Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. believes that to improve the wellness of the least served and fully live out its mission of “Serving Humanity to Honor God,” it must recognize the inequities inherent in its communities that contribute to poor health outcomes. Health Equity is both the process and goal by which Methodist Healthcare Ministries seeks to carry out that purpose. Health Equity is a framework of thought and action that strives to reduce racial and socio-economic disparities and create fair and just opportunities for every person to reach their full potential for health and life and contribute to that of others.
Our Health Equity Framework
Working with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ Board of Directors approved a framework adapted from IHI’s Pathways to Population Health model. This framework allows the organization to advance health equity by focusing on individual medical, behavioral, social and spiritual health and well-being, while also focusing on community conditions and root causes of health inequity that impact community- wide health and well-being.
Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ Strategic Framework for Health Equity: Pathways to Population Health
Fostering the development of empowered, resilient individuals and families (Thriving People); and
Contributing to the overall health and well-being of communities (Thriving Places) by strengthening conditions of the environments in the places where people exist through long-term, sustainable collaboration.
Our Strategic Plan
Commitment to Systemic Change
Food Security Opportunity Statement
Identify, invest in, and support approaches that improve food security in neighborhoods and communities by improving access to healthy and affordable foods. To create equitable and sustainable food systems, this includes supporting community-led food initiatives that are linked to local food production, distribution, and labor practices.
LEARN MOREDigital Equity Opportunity Statement
Methodist Healthcare Ministries seeks to improve Digital Equity by identifying, investing in, and supporting broadband and telehealth approaches that help close the digital divide. The three legs of the stool of digital equity include: Infrastructure, Affordability/Tools, and Digital Skills Training.
LEARN MOREAccess to Care Opportunity Statement
Identify, invest in, and support approaches that secure access to affordable healthcare coverage for uninsured, low-income individuals and communities.
LEARN MOREEconomic Mobility Opportunity Statement
Identify, invest in, and support approaches that address root causes of poverty and financial outcomes for individuals and families living in poverty. Financial Independence focuses on strengthening low-income people’s financial inclusion, knowledge, behaviors and opportunities through financial information, education and coaching opportunities, along with capital and asset building to develop financial capability and security.
LEARN MOREGoing Upstream
Upstream
- Pursuing laws, policies, and regulations that create community conditions supporting health for all people.
- Grantmaking – including collaborative funding – focused on changing the community conditions that make people sick.
Midstream
- Housing
- Access to healthy food
- Social Worker & Community Healthy Workers
- Direct support/assistance to meet patients social needs
Downstream
- Clinical
- Medical Interventions
To move upstream, Methodist Healthcare Ministries is:
- Moving from supporting a “sick care system” to strengthening a “health and well-being system”
- Changing strategy to address the root causes of inequities that impact health and well-being
- Shifting mindset from “doing for” people and communities experiencing poverty and inequities to “partnering with” individuals, families, and communities
Health Equity Video & Blog Series
Advancing Health Equity Videos
As part of our efforts to advance health equity, we have created a video series that features community voices from across Texas sharing how they are working together with neighbors, local leaders, and organizations to help more people have fair and just opportunities to thrive.
Advancing Health Equity Blog
Our Advancing Health Equity Blog Series takes a closer look at how Methodist Healthcare Ministries is sharpening its focus to more intentionally advance health equity. The series highlights the inequities inherent in communities across South Texas, and why supporting resilient families and building thriving communities to address vital conditions, intergenerational poverty and socio-economic disparities is critical to our mission of “Serving Humanity to Honor God.”