Health Equity Integration Project (HEIP)
Historically, efforts related to health equity, diversity, and inclusion have occurred in addition to the regular work of the leaders, teams, and individuals in health care organizations, as opposed to being inherently part of their work.
At Children’s Mercy, we believe that health equity will not be achieved until all members of our health care community include diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) perspectives fundamentally in everyday work activities. Many phrases have been used to describe this idea, reflecting that DEI should be “woven into the fabric,” “baked in, not sprinkled on top,” or “embedded” in all work.
HEIP services
The Health Equity Integration Project (HEIP) strives to help others make their work better. We do this by supporting teams and individuals at Children’s Mercy and other organizations who aspire to make the shift from treating DEI as only a special or extra topic to one inherent to the success of their work.
HEIP consultation may include:
- Meeting with teams to learn where they already include DEI concerns in their structure and work processes, what impact this has had, and where opportunities lie for further DEI integration.
- Partnering with and advising team leaders and members as they create new activities that make considerations of DEI a regular part of their standard work processes.
- Offering tools and examples that have been successful in other teams’ integration efforts.
- Advising teams on process and outcome metrics for their new activities, with the goal of achieving sustained improvements in their work.
- Supporting teams through on-going follow-up, including modification and growth of original activities and creation of new ones.
Expected results:
- Increased awareness among team leaders and members of how DEI concepts relate to the outcomes of their work.
- Improved work processes and outcomes through the inclusion of DEI perspectives.
- Culture change related to the role of health equity and DEI in health care efforts.
Tools and resources
The HEIP team has compiled tools to help other health care teams integrate health equity into their professional work.
DEI Checklist for Teams
A "generic" diversity, equity and inclusion checklist designed to be useful for any kind of team, but that can be adapted to suit a team's needs, as necessary. It includes “universal equity questions” on the back/worksheet area.
Versions of this checklist have been used successfully by strategic planning teams, task forces and others.
DEI Checklist for Problem-Solving
A quality improvement version of the DEI Checklist designed to accompany the Framework for Problem-Solving, also known as the "Problem Solving A3” (see next item).
DEI Checklist for Problem-Solving (PDF)
Framework for Problem-Solving
The framework used by teams engaging in quality improvement projects at Children’s Mercy, to be accompanied by the DEI Checklist for Problem-Solving (see item above).
Framework for Problem-Solving (PDF)
This pair of tools has allowed QI-focused teams to embed DEI considerations into the way they break down problems and implement solutions.
DEI Checklist for Clinicians
A version of the checklist designed to be used by individual clinicians interested in integrating health equity and DEI into their clinical practice.
DEI Checklist for Clinicians (PDF)
DEI Checklist for Trainees
A version of the checklist designed to be used in clinical training programs (e.g., residencies, fellowships, clinical practicums) to support trainees’ integration of health equity and DEI into their educational and clinical experience.
DEI Checklist for Trainees (PDF)
DEI Checklist for Educators
A version of the checklist designed to be used by individual educators interested in integrating health equity and DEI into their educational work.
DEI Checklist for Educators (PDF)
DEI Checklist for Researchers
A version of the checklist designed to be used by individual researchers interested in integrating health equity and DEI into their research-related work.
Universal questions related to DEI, health equity, and the social determinants of health have been used in multiple settings to assure that such perspectives are considered every time a given process is carried out. The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Universal Question Sample Set includes several examples of universal questions adapted to specific activities and processes.
The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Universal Question Sample Set (PDF)
Faculty contributors:
For more information
If you have questions or need more information about the HEIP, contact the Office of Equity and Diversity at OED@cmh.edu.