The US scores low on healthcare quality compared to other developed countries due in large part to inequities in the system.

But how do we address the needs of underserved communities and improve outcomes for BIPOC populations?

And what do we do when the data doesn’t tell the whole story?

Jackie Ejuwa is Vice President of Health Transformation at Blue Shield of California, where she leads piloting, evaluation and scaling of new and innovative strategies in support of Blue Shield’s Health Reimagined strategy. 

A healthcare futurist with a master’s in healthcare leadership, Jackie brings her deep and varied experience in the industry to her role as a health equity champion.

On this episode of The Beat, Jackie joins hosts Dr. Jessica Shepherd and Dr. Gautam Gulati to explain what’s behind the health disparities in underserved populations.

Jackie shares how she makes decisions around where to start working toward health equity, discussing Blue Shield of California’s most successful programs to address SDOH in underserved communities.

Listen in for Jackie’s insight on recognizing when the data is mismatched from reality and learn how to leverage data-informed decision making to work toward health equity.

Topics Covered

• Jackie’s role as VP of Health Transformation at Blue Shield of California
• Why the US scores low on healthcare quality compared to other developed countries
• Top contributing factors to health disparities in underserved populations
• How Jackie makes decisions re: where to start working toward health equity
• Strategies for building trust between underserved communities and health professionals
• Seeing data from multiple perspectives when it seems mismatched from reality
• How to imbed health equity in operations across a health organization
• Jackie’s most successful pilot programs to address SDOH and reduce health disparities
• Improvements in culturally inclusive dietary recommendations
• What’s behind the lack of awareness around colon cancer in BIPOC communities
• Shifting the medical education process to expand cultural competence

Connect with Jackie Ejuwa

• Blue Shield of California
• Jackie at Blue Shield of California
• Jackie on LinkedIn

Connect with Dr. Gautam Gulati & Dr. Jessica Shepherd

• ViVE
• HLTH
• Dr. Shepherd on Twitter
• Dr. Shepherd on LinkedIn
• Dr. Gulati on Twitter 
• Dr. Gulati on LinkedIn 

Resources

• Cafecito, Cumbia and Salud
• California Assembly Bill 904