His words resonate today just as they did when he delivered them 56 years ago. 

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. devoted his life to advancing equality and social justice. He linked the quest for social justice to healthcare and the importance of it as a bedrock for morality in America.

One decade after Dr. King uttered the words above, Capital Caring Health was founded on the premise that we care for every soul in our community, we honor diversity, and we treat everyone equitably with respect and compassion. We do not discriminate against any person for any reason—period.

Despite some progress in recent years health disparities remain—especially in our core service of hospice care. We are taking this issue head on. In 2020, we launched our Center for Equity, Inclusion and Diversity. In 2022, it is rededicated as our Center for Health Equity, with Laura Branker at the helm along with Donna Gayles, to continue to fulfill our Mission by addressing all forms of health disparities in the care being delivered in our service area and beyond.

A primary aim for the first half of 2022, is to make significant progress in seeing people of color much more comfortable with allowing hospice care for their loved ones with terminal illness. It is simply unacceptable that out of the 50 states plus the District, Washington D.C, ranks 48th in utilizing hospice care. We will do all we can through working with local faith groups and media partners to dramatically improve acceptance of hospice care by people of color in the months ahead. 

The work of our Center for Health Equity will also continue to focus attracting and retaining a diverse work force, to demand a commitment to diversity from vendors and partners, and to provide for all our colleagues an inclusive workplace environment. One current example is our January course offering on Developing a Culture of Belonging. 

During this week when we especially honor Dr. King, whose legacy lives on within the hearts and minds of millions of Americans and others, we rededicate our efforts to eliminate all forms of healthcare inequity.

Tom
capitalcaring.org