Equality Health, an Arizona-based organization pioneering healthcare delivery to underserved and ethnic populations, has officially launched its cultural care program with an initial focus on the Hispanic community. By improving cultural healthcare literacy among dedicated physicians, easing administrative burdens for providers and reducing costs for insurance companies, Equality Health is redefining the one-size-fits all healthcare system and building culturally-specific medical delivery systems.
“Challenges with language, health literacy and cultural and social norms have created large healthcare disparities for a growing portion of our society, and that’s unacceptable,” said Hugh Lytle, Equality Health Founder and CEO. “Equality Health is breaking down these barriers to provide individualized care that will ultimately improve the overall health of these communities.”
Lytle, a socially conscious entrepreneur, has spent the past several years conducting research on the health issues facing ethnic populations, growing Equality Health and adding top industry leaders to his executive team. In the past six months, the Equality Health Network has quickly grown with 300 primary care providers signing on to provide culturally sensitive, personalized care to at-risk populations in Arizona.
According to Equality Health’s research and information from its network of providers, nearly 50 percent of Hispanic adults in the United States lack a primary care physician, and this group is more likely to delay healthcare for an illness or drop out of treatment when symptoms disappear. The Equality Health Cultural Care Model works to break this cycle by establishing trust with patients and tailoring care to individual family and community dynamics.
“Medical science has come a long way, but it doesn’t do any good if people don’t have access to care and are not being treated well,” said Lytle. “Our model is changing the current standard in healthcare and instead looks at the deeper needs of individuals in our community to determine how we can better manage their care.”
Given the large Hispanic population in Arizona, the cultural care model launched with a focus on this demographic, but can be replicated and applied to any underserved community. Equality Health is forging a new path in the healthcare industry to create better health outcomes, to increase patient adherence and to lower the cost of care for underserved minorities. To learn more, visit equalityhealth.com
