Background & Directions

The Carolyn Boone Lewis Equity of Care Awards recognize hospitals and health systems that have achieved a high level of success in advancing diversity, health equity and equitable health care through data, leadership, governance, cultural awareness and community partnerships. Through these efforts, hospitals and the communities they serve have benefited from improved patient experiences, outcomes of care, high reliability, reduced per capita cost and improved workforce preparedness.

The American Hospital Association’s vision is of a society of healthy communities, where all individuals reach their highest potential for health. It is our commitment to advance equity, diversity and inclusion in health and health care.

The Carolyn Boone Lewis Equity of Care Awards recognize hospitals and health systems that have moved beyond plans to achieve a high level of success in advancing diversity, health equity, and equitable health care through data, leadership, governance, cultural awareness, and partnerships. These efforts have benefits, including improved patient experiences, outcomes of care, high reliability, reduced per capita cost, and improved workforce preparedness.

Application Requirements:
1) All applicants must be a member of the American Hospital Association.
2) All applicants must have signed the #123forEquity Pledge.

Hospital Size and Type
The Equity of Care (EOC) Awards Committee recognizes that efforts to advance health equity occur across the continuum of care within hospitals and health systems of varying sizes and geographic locations. As such, the committee considers the availability and effectiveness of applicants’ resources, in relation to hospital size and location. For this reason, it is important that applicants answer the application’s questions regarding hospital size and location.
Terms and Definitions to Consider

Diversity is defined as a workforce and patient population composed of varying characteristics including, but not limited to, groups of varied race, ethnicity, language preference, gender identity, sexual orientation, veteran status, physical and mental disabilities, and faith or religious beliefs.

Health equity means everyone has a fair and just opportunity to achieve optimal health. This requires removing not just obstacles to health such as poverty and discrimination, but also their consequences, including powerlessness, and lack of access to good jobs with fair pay, quality education and housing, safe environments, and health care.

Leadership refers to individuals in the hospital or health system at the level of director, vice president, the c-suite or executive office.

Governance is defined as the board of directors and its role within the organization in relation to accountability, evaluation, policy development, compliance and implementation.
Factors to Consider
The review committee values applications that highlight outcomes, metrics, descriptions of the results of success and the impact to equity for patients and communities. It is important for applications to highlight the following:
  1. The quantifiable impact that your diversity, inclusion, and health equity work has made in your hospital, health care system and in the communities you serve. 
  2. Describe the integration of your work in diversity and health equity into the organization’s business strategy and plans.
  3. Clearly identify how and why greater equity was achieved on behalf of your organization and community because of the work and strategies enacted.                                                  
Submission Deadline:

Please submit your online application and optional supplements by Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021 at 5 p.m. ET.

Questions can be directed to equityofcare@aha.org.

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