Lakeridge Health is proud to introduce I Belong – the organization's Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Anti-Racism (IDEAA) Multi-Year Action Plan.
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic, police violence, the “Me too" movement, anti-Asian hate, and Indigenous activism left those in health care thinking more deeply about how structural racism and all forms of discrimination intersects with health and well-being and how best to respond.
“At Lakeridge Health, we made a commitment to accelerate our IDEAA efforts in order to promote an equitable environment for all," said Cordelia Clarke Julien, Chair, Lakeridge Health Board of Trustees.
Over the last three years, the organization has made great strides in this work – putting initiatives in place to address system inequities identified by staff and physicians and surveying its communities to help inform the Board of Trustees.
"We know this is a journey and we're excited to now launch our IDEAA Multi-Year Action Plan that will keep us accountable for advancing IDEAA across Lakeridge Health," added Cordelia.
“As an organization that serves the diverse communities of Durham Region with more than 8,700 staff, physicians, and volunteers, we have a social responsibility to foster a culture where everyone feels they can work and receive care safely, openly, and honestly," shared Cynthia Davis, President and CEO, Lakeridge Health. “This IDEAA Multi-Year Action Plan builds on our comprehensive engagement and foundational work and formalizes our commitment to IDEAA."
Dr. Randy Wax, Chief of Staff, Lakeridge Health, explained that “this plan will allow us to acknowledge and validate the experiences of staff, physicians, volunteers, patients, and families, as well as prevent future harms, by embedding an IDEAA lens into the fabric of our organization. From the moment we begin caring for a patient or the first day someone joins our team, we want each person to be able to say, 'I belong at Lakeridge Health.'"
“We know we're only at the beginning of this journey and we realize that our path will not always be an easy or straightforward one," noted Cynthia. “However, through listening and working alongside our dedicated staff, volunteers, partners, and community members we believe we can put tangible changes in place and develop measurable solutions that will make a real difference to those who look to us for care, as well as those who provide it."
To learn more about I Belong, Lakeridge Health's IDEAA Multi-Year Action Plan, view the video below or visit the Lakeridge Health website.