HLTH Foundation launches coalition to help integrate health equity standards into healthcare tech and data practices

HLTH Foundation announced the formation of the Techquity for Health Coalition, with a mission to assimilate health equity considerations into healthcare technology innovation and data practices across the industry.

Additionally, the Coalition simultaneously launched a broad national survey of techquity in healthcare, available here, with a call for healthcare leaders to participate as respondents in this important and unique industry benchmark. The Coalition defines techquity as the strategic design, development, and deployment of technology to advance health equity, and encompasses the notion that technology can inhibit advancements in health equity if not implemented intentionally and inclusively.

Janna Guinen, Executive Director, HLTH Foundation: "Technology and data analytics offer enormous promise to improve care access and quality, but also add new layers of consideration for health equity. We urge healthcare leaders to participate in the techquity survey. With the continued digitization of healthcare, action is needed now to avoid further entrenchment of systemic inequities and outcomes disparities."

The Coalition intends to develop and gain consensus around metrics, best practices and standards to operationalize techquity in healthcare, as well as monitor industry progress. Techquity engages us in thinking and acting in a way where no person is left behind. "Leveraging the collective knowledge, diverse perspectives and experiences of the Techquity for Health Coalition will help us go further, faster to level the playing field and optimize technology for the people we serve."

Alexis Anderson, Principal, Ipsos Healthcare: "Techquity is not an individual- or consumer-level problem, but rather will require collaboration, transparency, inclusivity, and a commitment to organizational and systemic transformation. Our research over the next year, in addition to fielding a second survey, will include working with the Coalition to gather case studies and expert opinions in order to establish guidelines for a techquity practice healthcare."

www.hlthfoundation.org