Norton Healthcare announces five-step plan to address health and racial inequalities in Louisville and in its own house

Norton Healthcare has announced a five-step plan to address health care and racial inequalities in its own organization and the Louisville communities it serves:

• Establishing the Norton Healthcare Institute for Health Equity, which will identify and remove obstacles that prevent people in under-served areas from getting care.
• Ensuring access to primary care for everyone by providing more convenient and geographically accessible care.
• Making a commitment that Norton’s leadership will mirror the community, and taking initiatives to create an equal opportunity for growth, development and advancement for all team members.
• Providing more education and advocacy on health-policy issues to help its workforce make more informed choices, while advocating for vital safety-net programs such as Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.
• Investing an additional $20 million in permanent facilities and equipment over five years to address health needs in under-served areas.

“When we announced our $5 million investment with the Louisville Urban League last fall, I said the investment was just the beginning and that we will be fully engaged in eliminating health care disparities in our community,” Norton President and CEO Russell F. Cox said in a news release. “Since then, we have opened a primary care office in the West End YMCA building and tested nearly 1,000 people in under-served neighborhoods for covid-19.

“Now we must collectively work harder and faster than ever to embrace and understand our differences, be more inclusive, create a sense of belonging, build a genuine welcoming environment for everyone, and ensure that all people have an equal chance to live a healthy life.”