IHI Invites Health Systems to Participate in Free Learning Network & Action Community on Equity & Racial Justice in Health Care

Programs will run from January 2023-June 2024 and participation is free

Boston, MA – September 13, 2022 – Building off the success and lessons of two previous Pursuing Equity cohorts dating back to 2017, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) is now accepting applications for its new Pursuing Equity Learning Network and Action Community that will run from January 2023-June 2024. For the first time, engagement in Pursuing Equity will be free to participating teams thanks to a grant from Genentech, a member of the Roche Group.

The latest iteration of Pursuing Equity will offer two distinct opportunities for health care organizations across the US to use quality improvement (QI) methods to take action on equity and racial justice and dismantle white supremacy culture. The two opportunities include:

• The Learning Network – 40 teams will build the foundational infrastructure needed within health systems to successfully pursue health equity and racial justice within their organizations and communities. 
• The Action Community – a cohort of 10 teams will take specific steps to apply quality improvement tools to make measurable improvements in specific clinical health equity disparities.

“Creating a health care system that is equitable for all will require radical change to the current system,” said Dr. Kedar Mate, President and CEO of IHI. “IHI’s Pursuing Equity initiative is action-oriented and solutions-focused and builds on a multi-year history of closing gaps in care and remediating inequities. We are committed to catalyzing meaningful change now at even greater scale.”

The Pursuing Equity initiative seeks to activate health care systems, using a framework developed by IHI and its partners, to remediate health care differences that are systematic, avoidable, and unjust. IHI launched Pursuing Equity in 2017, partnering with eight US health systems, to accelerate the role of health care in improving equity. In 2020, the second iteration of Pursuing Equity involved teams from 22 health care organizations working to advance equity and racial justice in two project areas: one clinically focused and one strategically focused. The aim now is to build on those lessons and expand Pursuing Equity to more health systems that are ready to do the tough, radical, and rewarding work to improve health care and our communities.

“The Pursuing Equity framework offers tangible tools and transformative strategies to directly address systemic racism and inequities in health care,” said Rajni Dronamraju, Senior Director and Head of Giving & Social Impact at Genentech. “By helping 53 State Street, Boston, MA 02109 ihi.org organizations tackle the root causes of inequities, this initiative will help advance IHI and Genentech’s shared goal of creating a more just health care system.”

Details regarding the application process, expectations for participating organizations, and support from IHI are available at ihi.org/PursuingEquity. Action Community applications are open through October 21 and Learning Network applications are open through November 1.

About the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) 
The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) is an independent not-for-profit organization based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. For 30 years, IHI has used improvement science to advance and sustain better outcomes in health and health systems across the world. IHI brings awareness of safety and quality to millions, catalyzes learning and the systematic improvement of care, develops solutions to previously intractable challenges, and mobilizes health systems, communities, regions, and nations to reduce harm and deaths. IHI collaborates with a growing community to spark bold, inventive ways to improve the health of individuals and populations. IHI generates optimism, harvests fresh ideas, and supports anyone, anywhere who wants to profoundly change health and health care for the better. Learn more at ihi.org.

PRESS CONTACT: 
Joanna Clark, CXO Communication 
joanna@cxocommunication.com  
(207) 712-1404