Expanding inclusive pediatric care
Since July 2023, Hamilton Health Sciences McMaster Children’s Hospital (MCH) and Ron Joyce Children’s Health Centre (RJCHC) have been transforming to increase access to pediatric health care, increase capacity, reduce wait times, and improve patient flow at the hospital.
A historic government investment has helped expand over 26 pediatric programs and spaces and fill almost 300 new health care roles through an initiative called Growing MCH.
The EDI team helps advance the quality of patient care by fostering a culture of inclusivity, respect and accessibility for all staff and patients.
But expanding hospital programs is not just about seeing more patients or adding more services – it’s also about ensuring that these enhancements meet the diverse needs of every patient.
At the heart of this work is the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) team, whose efforts have been instrumental in shaping patient-centered care at Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS).
“Our vision at Hamilton Health Sciences is to provide the best care for all, and that begins with understanding and embracing the diverse needs of our community. Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion is not just an initiative or a department—it’s a fundamental part of how we deliver care,” says Rochelle Reid, senior lead and strategic advisor of the EDI team.
“By embedding EDI principles into every facet of our organization, we can ensure that each patient, child and family receives, accessible, and equitable care that respects their unique identities and experiences.”
Developing services within an EDI framework
The EDI team helps advance the quality of patient care by fostering a culture of inclusivity, respect and accessibility for all staff and patients.
The team collaborates with programs to ensure services are developed within an EDI framework, shaping policies and practices that result in patients and staff receiving support that honors their individual identities and experiences, including anti-racism policies, Voyce Translation Services, and more.
Their work involves conducting regular assessments, data collection and quality improvement plans, training across all levels, recognition, and collaboration with community partners to understand and address the needs of diverse populations.
This team played a significant role in supporting the recent expansion of pediatric services at MCH through work on the EDI Champions, data tools, Black Health funding, and an Indigenous Health Plan.
Champions for inclusive health care
In 2023, the team launched the EDI Champions initiative at MCH – 13 members of the HHS workforce interested in cultivating an environment that embraces EDI principles across the hospital.
“By championing EDI, I have had the chance to effect positive change in small ways, knowing that consistent effort will ultimately yield significant results,” says Ella Orillos, a registered nurse at RJCHC.
The EDI Champions provide insights and recommendations for project decision-making, regularly engage in committees and working groups to offer EDI perspectives, collaborate with partners, advocate for the needs of equity-deserving patients, families, and staff, and participate in continuous learning.
CARE Data and Health Equity Impact Assessment tool (HEIA)
Data on health equity is used to understand patients’ diverse needs, address challenges that prevent equitable access to health care, and improve culturally sensitive care. The EDI team’s data initiative – Collecting Accurate and Robust Equity Data, or CARE Data – aims to tackle health care disparities and develop measurable evaluation techniques.
The CARE Data pilot project launched in 2023 at the Boris Clinic at MCH and RJCHC. Over 2,400 patients voluntarily provided race, ethnicity and language data over three months. The program is expanding to other patient areas this fall.
“It is important to recognize that data collection is not justice or equity work. Collecting CARE data is the starting point, albeit an important one, as it marks our ability to measure our progress as we embark upon a journey towards health equity,” says Nagham Azzam Iqbal, manager on the EDI team.
In addition, MCH has started to use the Health Equity Impact Assessment tool (HEIA) for program planning and decision making. This tool helps identify unintended potential health impacts of a policy, program or initiative on vulnerable or marginalized populations. Programs then can make recommendations or decisions that remove negative outcomes and maximize positive impacts.
Using EDI practices and data in developing patient care
The Child & Youth Mental Health Program used the HEIA tool on a new initiative proposal to ensure potential negative consequences for equity deserving groups were addressed. The team has included EDI representation in the mental health program strategy refresh from the start and it is considered at every step of the planning process.
The Extensive Needs Service (ENS) – a program for children with complex behavioral, developmental and mental health needs – collaborated with quality improvement and the EDI team to develop a logic model to advance health equity within the program. This identified key items to monitor for health equity, including investment in staff, program infrastructure, how to tailor care for families, and developing partnerships for more access to care for children and families.
“Applying the lens of inclusion allows me to approach my daily work with staff and families from an unbiased perspective, ready to listen and work alongside individuals and families to help address their needs,” says Judi Feaver, an integrated service consultant on the ENS program.
The Black Health Initiative
In 2023, MCH implemented the Black Health Initiative based on recommendations in the Ontario Health Black Health Plan, which enhances culturally responsive clinical care, integrates care with community partners, and sustains health equity for Black populations.
Through one-time funding, the team enhanced access to care for patients with Sickle cell disease, advanced equity data collection, provided anti-racism education for staff across MCH, focusing on youth mental health care, and established key partnerships with Black-led organizations to directly support the wellbeing of Black youth.
Supporting Indigenous Health
HHS is in the process of finalizing an Indigenous Health Plan. An Indigenous Strategic Advisor has guided the progress, which is informed by engagement with Indigenous community members, organizations, physicians and staff, and the recognition of rights and treaties and existing Indigenous Health frameworks.
At MCH, the team is developing a specific Indigenous Health and Reconciliation Specialist Role to focus on the needs of children, youth and their families in accessing the care that meets their needs.
Learn more about the HHS EDI plan
