Dr. Allison Arwady
Commissioner, Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH)
As key areas of focus shift in conversations around healthcare, keeping up with the ongoing trends and changes in the space is essential. Join Exec Club, Deloitte, Northwestern Medicine, and UnitedHealthcare at the Healthcare Summit on May 10, 2023 to hear industry leaders share insights and wisdom about issues, challenges, and best practices in the Healthcare sector.
Health inequality is pervasive across the city of Chicago. The statistics are striking: Residents of Streeterville have a life expectancy of roughly 90 years, while those living in Englewood have a life expectancy of around 60 years. This stark difference in life expectancy is not a naturally occurring anomaly: it is a representation of the profound discrepancies in the health of residents across city neighborhoods.
Factors like access to safe housing and transportation, access to quality healthcare, job stability, literacy and language skills, pollution, and other social determinants of health (SDOH) all contribute to health disparities. What are the unique factors causing health inequity in Chicago? How do health disparities affect Chicago’s work force? Why must Chicago’s business community act on health inequity?
Commissioner, Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH)
Vice President of Health Equity Strategy & Development, American Medical Association
Vice Dean, Diversity & Inclusion & Chief, Division of Cardiology Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine
Editor-in-Chief, Chicago Health Magazine & Caregiving Magazine
Advocating for health equity goes beyond providing employees with healthcare benefits. Companies can play a vital role in working towards health equity and combatting the SDOH that their employees face each day. In providing employees with the resources and support needed for a healthy way of life, organizations invest in the future of their business through their employees.
We explore key questions of: How can companies determine the best resources to invest in to support employee health? What must be considered to develop a plan of action? How does investing in the health of employees support business in the long run?
Founder and CEO, SHIFT
Partner – Employee Health & Benefits, Mercer
Principal, Deloitte
Each day, patients, providers, hospitals, and insurance companies must engage with a healthcare system that prioritizes treating patients on an “as needed” basis rather than mitigating the root causes of health inequity.
In this current structure, providers are left scrambling to treat patients for major health issues, and communities are not getting the resources and support they need for a healthier future. Treating and covering patients for health issues as they arise is not a sustainable option for healthcare systems, providers, and insurance companies. For the health of patients and the stability of the healthcare system, these stakeholders must work to mitigate the causes of health inequity at the source and invest in initiatives that support the long-term health and well-being of the community.
Shifting the outlook on care and investment in the long-term health of patients does not come without significant considerations: How can insurance companies, health systems and providers come together to fight for health equity? How can hospital systems best engage with local communities and partner organizations to achieve success? What role do insurance companies play in battling the causes of health inequity? What are the key factors to lasting commitments?
Executive Director, Lurie Children’s Health Partners Care Coordination
Executive Vice President & Chief Medical Officer, UnitedHealth Group
Sr. Director – Healthcare, Northridge Group
Managing Director Center for Health Solutions and Health Equity Institute, Deloitte
Organizations cannot commit to the fight for a healthier Chicago without having the resources to invest in change-making initiatives. To be true champions for health equity, companies must have the support of executive leadership across business functions.
What are the key considerations leaders must take into account prior to committing to health initiatives? How can staff inspire leaders to adopt impactful programs to better the health of employees? How does this differ in the for profit vs. nonprofit sector? Where do providers and insurance company executives fit into the equation versus leaders in other sectors?
University of Illinois
EVP Office of Health Equity & Chief Diversity Officer, America Heart Association
Vice President, Quality, Northwestern Memorial HealthCare