Live at ViVE: Working Toward Health Equity with Data-Informed Decision-Making—featuring Jackie Ejuwa

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 CaliforniaWhy the US scores low on healthcare quality compared to other developed countriesTop contributing factors to health disparities in underserved populationsHow Jackie makes decisions re: where to start working toward health equityStrategies for building trust between underserved communities and health professionalsSeeing data from multiple perspectives when it seems mismatched from realityHow to imbed health equity in operations across a health organizationJackie’s most successful pilot programs to address SDOH and reduce health disparitiesImprovements in culturally inclusive dietary recommendationsWhat’s behind the lack of awareness around colon cancer in BIPOC communitiesShifting the medical education process to expand cultural competence

Connect with Jackie Ejuwa

Blue Shield of CaliforniaJackie at Blue Shield of CaliforniaJackie on LinkedIn

Connect with Dr. Gautam Gulati & Dr. Jessica Shepherd

ViVEHLTHDr. Shepherd on TwitterDr. Shepherd on LinkedInDr. Gulati on TwitterDr. Gulati on LinkedIn

Resources

Cafecito, Cumbia and SaludCalifornia Assembly Bill 904