Racial equity is essential for health equity
At bi3, we envision a day when every baby has an equal opportunity to achieve their highest level of health and well-being. This can only be accomplished if we start talking about race and addressing the inequities that exist between Whites and Blacks in our community.
In order to transform health, we need to prioritize health equity. Historical and contemporary injustices compound over a lifetime, leading to higher rates of infant deaths, stroke, late-stage cancer diagnosis, and shorter lives for African American Ohioans.
Our partners at Cradle Cincinnati recently announced we have a Black infant death crisis in Hamilton County. On average, Black babies die at more than three times the rate of White babies. Despite five decades of technological advancements, a Black baby born in Hamilton County today has nearly the same chance of survival as a White baby born 50 years ago, and their mothers currently face a maternal mortality rate three times higher than White mothers.
bi3 is joining the conversation and encouraging others to do so.
Without addressing the underlying causes of these statistics, we can never achieve true health equity. Racial equity needs to become a part of our daily conversations — not just during the month of February. That’s why we are proud to be presenting sponsors of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation’s Racial Equity Matters series. These impactful and challenging events, conducted by the Racial Equity Institute, focus on understanding and addressing the root causes of racism. We invite you to join us, and the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, in catalyzing a movement, educating the community and making Cincinnati a more vibrant place to live.
Learn more about the Racial Equity Matters series.
Jill Miller
President, Bethesda Inc.
Creating Impact: Rusty Curington, St. Vincent De Paul
At bi3 we are fortunate to work with partners committed to health innovation every day. Each month in 2020, we are sharing their stories and the positive difference they are making.
Meet Rusty Curington, the Assistant Director of Pharmacy at Cincinnati’s Society of St. Vincent De Paul (SVDP). Rusty manages two pharmacies that provide free prescription medications, as well as educational programs for patients. Through funding from bi3, he recently led the effort to pilot pharmacy-based patient care at the Good Samaritan Free Health Center in Price Hill. His team’s efforts are now a model for other Ohio pharmacies starting consult agreements.
Rusty recently shared with us his innovative approach to pharmacy, the path he took, and the inspiration that led to his journey to better health.
Read more about his personal transformation and how he has embodied innovation throughout his career.
Medical-legal partnership outcomes suggest addressing the legal needs of pregnant women lowers the extreme preterm birth rate
The Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati recently released promising results from its Maternal Health Law Partnership (M-HeLP).
Fueled by $874,000 grant from bi3, the initiative evaluated if resolving health-harming legal needs and increasing engagement in prenatal care improved health outcomes for pregnant patients at the TriHealth Good Samaritan OB-GYN Center.
Over three years, Legal Aid opened 900 cases addressing health-harming legal needs, such as inadequate or unsafe housing, access to public benefits (i.e., Medicaid, food stamps) and family law issues. Compared to the total Good Samaritan patient population, M-HeLP mothers saw a 36% reduction in extreme preterm birth rate, leading to an estimated health care cost savings of more than $1 million.
See the M-HeLP report brief and learn more about the next steps for this project.