Health Equity

Our Mission & Vision

We envision a future where everyone gets the healthcare they need to live their healthiest life.

Our mission is to ensure that every patient feels seen, heard and comprehensively cared for during their time with us and their journey beyond. We are dedicated to providing whole-person care, which embraces all aspects of an individual's lived experiences and unique characteristics. Our commitment extends to empowering our workforce with the necessary training, tools, workflows, and resources to recognize and engage with our patients' multifaceted needs. Through this holistic approach, we aim to foster an environment where every patient receives personalized, empathetic care.

Data Collection

Your story matters –- every question helps us care better.

We ask about your:

• Race
• Ethnicity
• Preferred Language

Because it helps us ensure we provide the best care possible to meet all of your unique needs. With this information, we are able to stratify health outcomes and identify potential health care disparities that exist within our community. Answering these questions is voluntary and will be kept confidential.

Why Health Equity Matters

When there is a lack of access to quality healthcare, health disparities can worsen, making it more difficult to be healthy.

Many people face obstacles that prevent them from getting good medical care. Challenges like financial insecurity, language barriers, or a lack of transportation options can make it difficult to stay healthy.

By removing these challenges, we can:

• Reduce health disparities
• Improve overall health
• Build a stronger, healthier community

How We’re Making Healthcare Fair for Everyone

We’re committed to making healthcare fair, inclusive and accessible.

Here’s how we’re doing it:

• Community health events – We host and participate in events to connect people with important health resources.
• Community health clinics – We collaborate with local healthcare providers to expand access to primary and preventive care, ensuring individuals receive the medical attention they need.
• Perinatal Equity Working Group – We engage in the Perinatal Equity Working Group as part of the Santa Clara County Perinatal Equity Initiative.
• Perinatal health clinics – We support and engage in perinatal health initiatives with local clinics.
• Free mammogram program – We provide breast imaging exams at no cost to the uninsured or underinsured who meet income eligibility requirements.
• Free lung cancer screenings – We offer free low-dose computed tomography (CT) lung cancer screenings to eligible individuals.
• Social determinants of health (SDOH) screenings – We identify social and environmental factors that may impact someone’s health, such as financial instability, food insecurity, housing instability, transportation needs, and interpersonal safety.
• Language assistance services – We offer interpreters and translated materials to make sure everyone can communicate clearly with their healthcare team.

By focusing on these areas, we’re working toward a healthcare system where everyone can achieve their best health.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are Social Determinants of Health (SDOH)?

SDOH are the conditions in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship and age. They shape a person’s health and access to care.

Key factors that influence SDOH include:

• Housing, neighborhoods and transportation
• Education, employment and income
• Healthy food options and spaces for physical activity
• Language and literacy skills
• Polluted air and contaminated water
• Prejudice, racism and violence

For example, someone in a neighborhood with few grocery stores may have difficulty accessing fresh food, increasing their risk of diet-related illnesses. Similarly, limited public transportation can make it hard to get to medical appointments.

What Is a Health Disparity?

A health disparity is a difference in health outcomes between groups of people. SDOH often contribute to these disparities because certain social conditions make it more difficult for individuals to access and receive quality healthcare.

For instance, lower-income communities may experience higher rates of preventable diseases due to limited healthcare access. And individuals in under-resourced neighborhoods may have fewer opportunities for exercise, increasing their risk of chronic conditions.

What Is Health Equity?

Health equity means making sure every person has a fair chance to achieve their best health by removing barriers to care.

For example, by expanding access to transportation services, more people can get regular medical check-ups, leading to early detection and treatment of illnesses. Likewise, providing language support ensures that non-English speakers fully understand their treatment plans, improving their health outcomes and overall well-being.

Connect With Us

For more information about our health equity initiatives, please call 650-940-7000.