Health Equity

What is Health Equity ?

The American Hosptial Association (AHA) defines health equity to mean the following: "Health equity means that everyone has a fair and just opportunity achieve optimal health. This requires removing obstacles to health such as poverty, discrimination, and their consequences, including powerlessness and lack of access to good jobs with fair pay, quality education and housing, safe environments, and health care."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that "Health equity is the state in which everyone has a fair and just opportunity to attain their highest level of health. Achieving this requires focused and ongoing societal efforts to address historical and contemporary injustices; overcome economic, social, and other obstacles to health and healthcare; and eliminate preventable health disparities.

To the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), health equity "means the attainment of the highest level of health for all people, where everyone has a fair and just opportunity to attain their optimal health regardless of race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, geography, preferred language, or other factors that affect access to care and health outcomes."

Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNAs)

Community Health Needs Assessments are reports that pull together community specific health-related data with the aim to improve the wellness and health of that community by identifying actions, opportunities, and resources available. These assessments are conducted on a regular basis and represent the efforts of several agencies and organizations.

The following links are PDFs unless otherwise noted.

• Charleston Tri-County: 2022-Community-Needs-Assessment-Report
  
  

• Midlands: Community Health Needs Assessment
  
  

• Pee Dee Region Community Health Needs Assessment Report
  
  

• MUSC Orangeburg CHNA 2022
  
  

• Lancaster Community Health Needs Assessment Report

Health Equity Video

What is Health Equity? Episode 2 of "That's Public Health" Video

MUSC Internal Partners

Healthy Me – Healthy SC
Healthy Me – Healthy SC (HMHSC) has a passion for addressing health inequity through collaboration with other community partners, and spearheading efforts to improve health outcomes through transparency, accountability, and sustainability. HMHSC is fueled by the collective mission of both Clemson University and MUSC. This combination provides the commitment and expertise necessary to reach and impact all areas of SC.

In Our DNA SC
In Our DNA SC is a community health research project launched by MUSC. The project will look at how your DNA affects your health. It may also help improve access to personalized health care and support new research discoveries for our community.

Office of Community Engagement
The mission of the Office of Community Engagement is to improve health outcomes that preserve and optimize life in South Carolina and beyond. In partnership with the surrounding communities. They aim to lead health innovation for the lives they touch, regardless of social circumstance.

Office of Equity
The Office of Equity allows MUSC to better elevate diversity, equity, and inclusion. Here at MUSC, we assure that our workforce, students, and leadership reflect the communities we serve, and our goal is to deliver equitable health care throughout our state.

Population Health
Total population health is a term we use to describe the management of health and illness in the Lowcountry. The primary population we identify at MUSC Health includes the residents of the tri-county area including Charleston. The health we will manage includes not only the absence of illness but the concept of health from your personal perspective. Here at MUSC, we want all individuals to enjoy happy and healthy lives. South Carolina Telehealth Alliance

South Carolina Telehealth Alliance
The SC Telehealth Alliance (SCTA) focuses on service-oriented strategy domains with cross-cutting support tactics in the areas of telehealth education, advocacy/awareness, technology, and outcomes. SCTA focuses on expanding telehealth services, hospital support, convenient care, primary support, and health equity. Each of these service domains will close the gap in access to health care services for high-priority health disparities.