June 19, 2020

Team – 

As I’ve discussed in my Weekly Update and recent Town Halls, the growing issue of racial inequality and injustice is directly contributing to poor health outcomes—or health disparities--for African Americans and other minority communities here in Cincinnati and across the county. As the leading healthcare provider in the region, we not only have a duty to care for ALL people who need our services, but we also must stand up for and voice our support for these underserved communities. In addition to our work inside TriHealth I’m proud to share with you that today, as we celebrate Juneteenth, I formally endorsed, on behalf of TriHealth, State Senate Concurrent Resolution 14 (SCR 14), which would declare racism a public health crisis. In the letter, TriHealth also urged Governor DeWine to establish a working group to promote racial equity in Ohio.

TriHealth is committed to ending long-standing structural racism that results in these health disparities, and the passage of SCR 14 would help further our work to do so. Our system is rooted in the works and teachings of the Sisters of Charity and the Bethesda Deaconesses whose mission was to care for the poor and marginalized and to strive for a more just society, and this remains our mission today. Especially during these difficult times, we look to our mission and values – particularly Respect for All People and Valuing Differences – as we seek ways to better serve our community, the entire community, while pursuing true equality, justice and improved health for all. 

Click here to read the full text of the letter I sent to Chairman Burke, Vice Chair Huffman, Ranking Member Antonio, and Members of the Ohio Senate Health, Human Services and Medicaid Committee, and Governor DeWine. 

TriHealth fully supports SCR 14 and commends Senator Sandra Williams and Senator Hearcel Craig for their efforts to introduce this legislation that would make Ohio the first state in the nation to address racism as a public health crisis. There is no place for racism in our world – and there’s certainly no place for it in healthcare. Through this legislation, we will be able to take this issue head on with the state platform necessary to initiate substantive and sustainable change that can result in better health, better care and zero tolerance for racism in our state.

Thank you for your continued commitment to living our values and working tirelessly to deliver the best patient care to all those we serve. Be sure to join us next week on Wednesday, June 24th at 12pm, for a special Town Hall on Racial Inequality and Injustice, livestreamed on Bridge and Facebook. 

Mark C. Clement

President & CEO