IHI chief underscores equity’s centrality in improving health care

Kedar Mate, MD, CEO of the nonprofit Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), said COVID-19 has exposed flaws and defects within the U.S. health system. In an interview with HealthLeaders Media, he singled out the disparate impact of the disease on people of color as an area of special concern. Under his leadership, Mate said IHI will pay special attention to equity while continuing to focus on patient safety across the continuum of care, reducing waste and increasing value, and restoring joy in work for clinicians. Reading morbidity and mortality reports through an equity lens reveals both challenges and opportunities for improvement, he said. The American Hospital Association partners with IHI on various endeavors, most notably the Age-Friendly Health Systems initiative. (HealthLeaders Media story, 7/8/20)