2020 brought with it not only the COVID-19 pandemic and racial upheaval, but also a new and urgent focus on the way hospitals and health systems address health disparities and equity in the communities they serve.

A new HealthLeaders Buzz Survey collected responses from over 100 healthcare executives from a variety of organizations, including hospitals, health systems, physician organizations, and ambulatory surgical centers, finds that 93% of provider organizations are addressing health disparities in some way, with only 7% of respondents saying they don’t currently have a direct role in doing so. However, there's a wide gap between provider efforts, and countless organizations have a long way to go.

HealthLeaders and Vizient convened a dynamic panel of 11 healthcare executives whose organizations are on the cutting edge of improving health disparities in their communities. In this report, they reflect on the survey's key questions and share proven strategies around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in healthcare.