Washington Regional is proud to join health systems across the nation participating in the Framework for Health Equity established by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

This framework strengthens our infrastructure to create synergies across the health care system by driving change to eliminate barriers to CMS-supported benefits for underserved or disadvantaged individuals and communities.

What is Health Equity?

CMS defines health equity as, “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, preferred language, and other factors that affect access to care and health outcomes.”

Washington Regional’s Health Equity Strategic Plan

Washington Regional has developed a strategic plan to ensure the continued success of the many programs we have in place as they evolve with the changing needs of our communities. Our Health Equity Strategic Plan focuses on:

• Identification of clinical disparities
• Utilization of community resources and support services
• Stratifying quality and safety data using sociodemographic characteristics
• Screening standardization
• Strategic payor and community collaborations
• Workforce diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging

Quality of Care

Washington Regional’s mission is to improve the health of people in the communities we serve through compassionate, high-quality care, prevention and wellness education. This mission is evidenced by our community outreach and the substantial resources dedicated to providing the highest quality of care for our patients. Washington Regional strives to achieve better outcomes for people who missed or could not afford essential opportunities to care for their physical, mental and spiritual well-being. As part of our health equity strategic plan, patients are evaluated for social needs including housing instability, food insecurities, transportation needs, utility difficulties and interpersonal safety. A list of community resources and support services is available and provided to patients upon request and when needs are identified.

Hospital Ratings

Through a combination of educational initiatives, organizational affiliations, community events and other efforts, Washington Regional is committed to connecting the individuals and families we serve to the services we provide. Washington Regional utilizes two different rubrics – the CMS and Leapfrog rating systems – to measure our performance and guide our ongoing efforts to achieve our vision of being the best place to receive care and the best place to give care. Please note that while both Leapfrog and CMS ratings measure a hospital’s quality indicators, they measure different criteria. Therefore, a Leapfrog “A” rating does not automatically equate to a CMS five-star rating.