With more than 20,000 physicians serving 2.5 million patients across some of the most diverse communities in California, Oregon, and Washington, Optum Pacific West has a unique opportunity to address diversity and inclusion from both internal and external perspectives.
Optum’s leadership, physicians, and care teams reflect the communities Optum serves, ensuring that every Pacific West associate speaks the language of its patients and is conversant with their culture. This knowledge is directly reflected in the whole-person care and treatments Optum delivers. It’s a wide-lens approach that encourages communication, helps build meaningful, long-term relationships with patients, families, and the community, and has a positive impact on health outcomes. Receiving care that reflects and supports their culture also gives patients a sense of belonging and purpose. And because Optum is a multi-payer health care provider, it is able to care for all members of its communities, regardless of insurance type.
ACTION-DRIVEN DEI INITIATIVES AND MOTIVATED TEAMS
Creating a workplace environment in which everyone is recognized, valued, and can experience a deep sense of belonging is a priority at Optum Pacific West. It’s a value Optum has translated into action in many different and positive ways.
In the wake of George Floyd’s murder, Optum moved immediately to hold two facilitated sessions with Dr. Amar Desai, president and CEO, Optum Pacific West on “How to be an Anti-Racist.” Optum created a safe space for dialogue in an all-employee town hall. And the company ensured equity for working parents by encouraging flex schedules and respecting work/life commitments with over $6 million in funds for backup childcare during the pandemic.
To improve the care experience and drive quality for the LGBTQ+ community, Optum developed an innovative continuing education-eligible training on LGBTQ+ health equity. Currently, more than 4,000 team members have taken the training and put their learning into action, resulting in a more positive LGBTQ+ patient experience.
Unconscious Bias training was also deployed to 8,000 senior leaders, clinicians, and patient-facing team members to help engagement across a spectrum of experience and perspectives.
DEI PANDEMIC EFFORTS
Far from slowing DEI momentum during the pandemic, in 2021 Optum’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts evolved from a loose-knit group of volunteers into a key organizational entity. Though resources were at a premium, DEI efforts were invested in to create a Culture, Inclusion, and Diversity (CID) team and steering committee that sets and implements DEI priorities, with a focus on data-based approaches.
REFLECTING COMMUNITIES HELPS TO SERVE THEM BETTER
To ensure culturally relevant care, Optum is committed to hiring physicians who reflect the communities they serve. These providers not only speak the language but also share the cultural backgrounds of their diverse patient groups.
Currently, women and people of color comprise 71% of Optum’s leadership team, with increased targets for diverse representation being implemented across the organization. This effort extends across the West Coast with targets to increase Black and Hispanic physicians.
To ensure that the diverse perspectives of its employees continue to be heard, Optum built the Connected Communities @Optum California employee resource groups, including Pride, Women LEAD, Unidos, African American Experience, and Asians United.
These employee-led groups create connections within the community, build opportunities, and play a critical role in creating a more inclusive workplace environment. They give team members a platform to inform and promote equity and diversity within the health care setting and at the workplace.
HEALING HEALTH DISPARITIES ACROSS COMMUNITIES
Because social determinants of health (SDOH) play a key role in health disparities, and are most prevalent in underserved communities, in an effort to improve health equity, the Optum clinic in downtown Los Angeles was moved next to the El Salvadorean corridor, bringing it closer to patients.
In the underserved, rural community of Hemet, a one-stop facility was created that includes health care, social workers, a gym, a pharmacy, and more.
To provide seniors with better access to care during the pandemic, Optum launched a tablet delivery services for homebound patients and a ride-share service for seniors who relied on mass transit.
In addition to creating accredited LGBTQ+ health equity, Optum also implemented patient forms inclusive of gender identity and sexual orientation, and ensured its clinics have gender-neutral bathrooms.
A POWERFUL CULTURE OF INCLUSION CREATING HEALTHY CHANGE
Optum’s focus on health equity and culturally competent care is bringing exceptional physicians and care professionals to the company every day and creating a workplace that ensures all team members feel a sense of belonging and purpose. It’s a commitment to diversity and inclusion that’s delivering high-quality, compassionate care, helping people to live healthier lives, and helping the health system work better for everyone.
Learn more at Optum.com.
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