Hartford Business Journal

www.HartfordBusiness.com • September 21, 2020 • Hartford Business Journal 35 After the pandemic, we can't "return to normal." COVID-19 has spotlighted the realities of racism and inequity that for too long have been accepted — or ignored — as being "normal." We must seize this moment to become better than that "normal." At Hartford HealthCare, we are committed to standing for inclusion and health equity, and standing strongly against racism. We're dedicated to this work internally, with our 30,000 colleagues; and externally, with and for our commu- nities. We intend to make a measurable and lasting difference. Inside Hartford HealthCare, we're engaging in a comprehensive diversity and inclusion assessment; increasing support for recruiting leaders from underrepresented backgrounds; expanding mid- and early-career development programs; actively engaging with and listening to colleagues about their experiences and how we can improve; and more. We're also expanding our Health Equity Department so we can enhance our focus on reducing health disparities, starting in the communities we serve. Today, people in historically marginalized communities in particular are hurting — confronted by at least two related traumas: the undeniable reality of systemic anti-Black racism in our nation, and the pandemic's disproportionate effect on communities of color. We know the pandemic is making the long-standing crisis of inequity in our nation's healthcare system even worse. The coronavirus death rate in predominantly Black U.S. counties is six times higher than in predominantly white counties. That's not "a disparity." That's a disgrace. My colleagues and I have been working hard to drive changes that will make a difference for all of the people and communities we serve. Through tremendous collaborative efforts, we're: • Establishing programs and services that improve the quality of life for those suffering from social, financial, and health disparities • Providing, through our expanded virus testing, additional and much-needed testing in areas that are currently underserved — particularly in larger cities and communities where our hospitals are located, and partnering with the state to set up additional collection sites in urban centers. • Intentionally becoming an anti-racist organization by naming the ways that structural racism affects healthcare delivery, and cultivating an inclusive environment in which we are aware of our biases and capable of reducing their effects on colleagues and patients alike. The "normal" we came from is not the normal we want to return to. With careful attention to equity, diversity and inclusion — and the elevation of voices from our most at-risk communities — we can create a "better normal" that we believe in. Jeffrey A. Flaks President and Chief Executive Officer Hartford HealthCare Sincerely,

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