The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) https://www.wkkf.org has awarded a $2.4 million grant to Ochsner Health https://ochsner.org and Xavier University of Louisiana https://www.xula.edu to support the Ochsner Xavier Institute for Health Equity and Research (OXIHER). OXIHER is to be part of a ten year $100 million commitment to address critical health needs.
Key challenges facing Louisiana includes a high percentage of children in poverty, people who smoke, prevalence of obesity, low birth weights, along with higher rates of cardiovascular and cancer deaths. The state also has some of the country’s highest rates of chronic conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure and COPD.
These challenges became even more apparent as COVID-19 impacted areas across Louisiana. New Orleans emerged as one of the country’s first and hardest hit COVID-19 hotspots in 2020 and continues to face high positivity and fatality rates.
OXIHER will focus on five key strategies to address health inequity in Louisiana to include:
- Outcomes and health service research
- Develop training for healthcare providers so that the importance of diversity, inclusion, and health equity is understood
- Develop population health initiatives to focus on healthcare access and ambulatory care quality metrics plus connect patients with needed community resources outside of healthcare
- Work with government leaders to improve public policies related to health
“Our goal is to work toward healthcare equity for every person in every community which requires removing obstacles such as poverty, discrimination, and their consequences,” said Eboni Price-Haywood, M.D., Medical Director, OXIHER.