Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Gilchrist is committed to ensuring that the values of diversity, equity and inclusion are upheld in everything we do for those we have the privilege to serve.

A Message From Our Leadership

At Gilchrist, we are committed to a vision of providing every patient, every time with the care we would want for our own loved ones.

Embedded in this statement—and what we would like to make bold in this message—is that care is provided to every patient, every time, regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, age, ability, gender identity or expression, demographic, economic position or religion. Everyone deserves a safe, healing, culturally competent healthcare experience.

We pride ourselves on being a continuous learning organization, and that applies to our diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. The learning for this type of work is never over, and we embrace this challenge as an opportunity.

At the heart of this vision is our people. Inclusion and diversity of thought spark innovation and inspire us. This requires us to ensure there is an opportunity for everyone to be engaged. As our community evolves, so must we as an organization. From ensuring our practices, processes and procedures reflect current times to fostering an inclusive, psychologically safe environment of trust and respect, we continue to actively evolve goals around important metrics, such as growing diversity in our leadership.

A strong, diverse workforce that feels included and respected and is also reflective of our community will get Gilchrist closer to our mission of health equity for all. We are committed to active listening to meet the needs of our community and responding with tangible change.

Public health is a right, not a privilege. That is a belief from the very top of our organization and embedded in our strategic objectives, our vision and our work. We are committed to ensuring we do the work to see that through.

Sincerely,

Catherine Y. Hamel
President

Wayman Scott, MS, MTS, LGPC
Associate Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion

Intentional & Continuous Learning

DEI Strategic Plan (2021-2024)

In fall 2021, GBMC HealthCare, including Gilchrist, partnered with a third-party talent management consultant group to support the development of an extensive three-year DEI Strategic Plan to address workforce, organization and health equity.

Our goals over the next three years are:

DE&I Scorecard

Commitment to Health Equity

Gilchrist is committed to providing a safe, healing, culturally competent healthcare experience to every patient, every time, regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, age, ability, gender identity or expression, demographic or religion.

Some of our efforts to improve health equity include:

• Maryland Health Equity Resource Act – In 2022, GBMC, including Gilchrist, received a multi-year, $1.5 million grant from the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission (CHRC)*. This funding was awarded under the Maryland Health Equity Resource Act, legislation approved by the Maryland General Assembly. Under the program, the GBMC Health Partners Primary Care—Jonestown location will expand and the Gilchrist Elder Medical Care (EMC) program will provide in-home medical care to residents of zip codes 21202 and 21218 and focus on improving preventive healthcare around high-risk behaviors with this population: Hypertension, Obesity, and Diabetes.

• Institute of Healthcare Improvement Participant—IHI’s mission is to improve health and healthcare worldwide. IHI is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and being an anti-racist organization. Ideally, equity, as with all of IHI’s values, is embedded in all systems, processes, and actions. At IHI, holding equity as one of the core values means: We work to develop and maintain systems, policies, and procedures to eliminate gaps in our organization and in our work.

• Health Equality Index Participant—The Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) is the national LGBTQ+ benchmarking tool that evaluates healthcare facilities’ policies and practices related to the equity and inclusion of their LGBTQ+ patients, visitors and employees. The HEI 2022 evaluates more than 2,200 healthcare facilities nationwide.

• Let’s Lead Participant—A Leaders in Equity and Diversity Collaborative through the Maryland Hospital Association brings together healthcare delivery organizations for specific, action-oriented learning targeting meaningful outcomes and focusing on minority aging populations to live a healthier, productive life.
  
  
• Listening Sessions —Are meetings one to two hours in duration and provide an opportunity to hear directly from patients, staff, families, or other community members of focus. In 2020 members from the DEI council worked with the Hospice and Palliative Care Network of Maryland to explore the barriers to hospice and palliative care utilization among communities of color in Howard County.  To better understand barriers to hospice and primary care, the DEI Council Outreach Committee conducted a listening session series focused on the Jonestown neighborhood in southeast Baltimore City. Most recently members of the outreach committee supported the listening session series on safety in southeast Baltimore. For more information click here.

*The DEI Outreach Team works with leaders in the healthcare system and the broader community to facilitate and consult on listening sessions.

• Gilchrist Center Baltimore – Gilchrist’s inpatient hospice center in Baltimore City provides underserved individuals with access to high-quality compassionate end-of-life care in a peaceful, homelike setting, regardless of background or ability to pay. This new state-of-the-art facility is the only residential inpatient hospice in the city. The center is also home to clinical teams who care for patients and families in private homes and residential care communities across the city.

Celebrating Our Diversity

Internal activities developed and supported by the DE&I Council at GBMC and Gilchrist aim to celebrate the diversity of the GBMC:

Watch:

Diversity Statement

Gilchrist is committed to building an exemplary people-centered community that respects and appreciates the principles of diversity and inclusion, including race, ethnicity, gender, age, socio-economic status, national origin, sexual orientation, disability and religion. For people suffering from serious and life-limiting illnesses, this is especially important. Race, sexual orientation, religious affiliation and unique life experiences, such as veteran service, may create different perspectives and customs related to death and dying. When effectively understood and integrated into our care, diversity enhances the experience of those we serve and their families. Each of our employees shares in the responsibility of creating and maintaining a work and care environment of mutual respect and support. We believe that people learn and work better when the environment is comprised of a diverse workforce in which we routinely interact with others unlike ourselves. At Gilchrist, our Diversity and Inclusion work is led by a group of dedicated individuals, representing all departments, who possess a strong commitment to equity. Through ongoing positive interactions with our own diverse workforce, our employees gain the skills and confidence to deliver people-centered, culturally competent care to members of different sexual, racial, ethnic, economic and religious groups. Diversity and Inclusion “Learning Forums” are offered throughout the year, every year, promoting the personal growth of each of our employees and our organization as a whole. We expect every employee to embrace and demonstrate the underlying values of this vision. We are committed to attracting, retaining and supporting all employees who reflect the diversity of our community. Gilchrist holds its leaders and managers accountable for developing a workplace that allows each employee to use their unique qualities to fulfill our mission. Gilchrist is committed to ensuring that the values of diversity and inclusion are upheld in everything we do for those we have the privilege to serve.

DE&I Leadership

Wayman Scott, MS, MTS, LGPC, Associate Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Community Relations

DE&I Council

The DE&I Council advises on the strategic approach and tactical implementation of diversity, inclusion and equity work with the goal of furthering the Gilchrist diversity mission. It is comprised of employees at all levels and from diverse departments across the organization.

Co-chairs

Deborah Bain, Chaplain
Wayman Scott, Associate Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Community Relations

Sub Committee Chairs

Wayman Scott, MS, MTS, LGPC
Associate Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion

Debbie Bain
Chaplain

Diane Sancilio
Director of Counseling & Support

Gena Johnson
Volunteer Services Administrator

Stacy Bellmore
Director of Marketing

Amy Hewat, LMSW
Transition Case Manager

Members

Other Diversity Workgroups