Equitas Health is one of the nation’s largest HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ healthcare systems. It operates 17 health centers offering primary care, behavioral health services, medical case management and dentistry.
Equitas Health is a champion of healthcare access, working to guarantee that members of the LGBTQ community have access to quality healthcare. To this end, Equitas Health assists its providers in their pursuit of WPATH (World Professional Association of Transgender Health) certification.
A Leading Advocate for Healthcare Access
Equitas Health (formerly AIDS Resource Center Ohio) is one of the nation’s largest HIV/AIDS, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning healthcare organizations. Established in 1984, it provides care to tens of thousands of patients annually through a diverse healthcare and social service delivery system that includes primary medical care; retail pharmacy; dental; behavioral health; HIV prevention advocacy work as well as community health initiatives.
In 2016, Equitas Health expanded their mission from HIV/AIDS treatment to providing healthcare services to all LGBTQ individuals. As a result, the organization has blossomed into a regional not-for-profit community-based healthcare system with 17 locations throughout 11 cities in Ohio.
The Columbus-based organization also runs a mobile health fleet to provide essential services to those in need. This outreach program has proven successful in reaching underserved communities like Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio.
Equitas Health, a federally qualified Community Health Center look-alike, can offer care at lower costs than other healthcare providers. Its sliding fee scale is based on patients’ income level.
This ensures everyone has access to high-quality care and removes barriers for those living with HIV. Furthermore, the nonprofit can better serve those suffering from hepatitis C, AIDS and other chronic illnesses by providing more specialized services.
Equitas Health is dedicated to creating a safe workplace for LGBTQ employees through Employee Resource Groups, affinity groups and other initiatives.
Making Healthcare Inclusive
Established in 1984, Equitas Health is one of the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ and HIV/AIDS healthcare systems. Each year they provide patient-centric, integrated services to tens of thousands in Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia with primary medical care, pharmacy services, dentistry services, behavioral health programs for HIV/STI treatment and prevention; PrEP/PEP medication administration; Ryan White case management services; care navigation; advocacy initiatives; as well as other community health initiatives.
For years, this organization has worked to address the injustices experienced by LGBTQ communities. In 2016, however, they made a pivot in their mission; shifting from being solely HIV-focused to offering care for everyone and creating an inviting atmosphere for all members.
Equitas has taken a more holistic approach to its business model by operating its pharmacies as social enterprises and investing 100% of profits back into the organization’s programs and services. With this renewed emphasis on the individual, Equitas is revolutionizing how pharmaceuticals are managed.
Equitas recently unveiled its mobile outreach van to serve Cincinnati and the surrounding areas. This unit provides free HIV and STI testing, connection to long-term care resources, as well as assistance with medical insurance enrollment.
The program seeks to increase access to health care for LBGTQ+ individuals in southwest Ohio. Additionally, the unit will serve as a hub for other local services like counseling, sexual education and support groups.
In 2017, Equitas was awarded a state grant to assess health literacy among its employees. This assessment would help the organization identify areas for improvement and allow it to track its progress over time.
Addressing Disparities
In 2016, Equitas Health rebranded from ARC Ohio, a nonprofit HIV/AIDS service provider. With 17 locations throughout Ohio, Equitas offers primary care, behavioral health services, medical case management and dental care to those affected by HIV/AIDS as well as those medically underserved communities.
Everyone deserves access to high-quality healthcare, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status or disability. Unfortunately, certain groups are more likely to face barriers to getting necessary healthcare and are more likely to go uninsured than other people.
To achieve health equity, a range of solutions is necessary to address disparities in income, education, housing, transportation and criminal justice. These measures must go beyond grants and access to healthcare.
One major obstacle to health equity is that many lack the ability to identify and eliminate important disparities, such as racism. Without understanding what causes these differences, it’s difficult to know which interventions will be successful.
Equitas Health is striving to eliminate these disparities by better understanding the social determinants of health and how to increase access to healthcare. To this end, we have implemented PRAPARE - a national social determinants of health assessment tool.
This tool enables healthcare providers to monitor patients’ social determinants of health, which are factors that may hinder them from maintaining or attaining healthy behaviors and avoiding disease. The objective is to use this data to identify and address barriers to care.
Equitas Health is opening a mobile sexual health clinic, which will offer testing and treatment of HIV, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis. Additionally, they will assist with insurance enrollment as well as connection to other healthcare services.
Empowering Lives
Established in 1984, Equitas Health is one of the nation’s largest HIV/AIDS, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) healthcare systems. Every year it provides patient-centric, integrated services to tens of thousands across Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia.
Equitas Health’s commitment to vulnerable communities has earned them a place of honor among healthcare reform advocates across America. By targeting medically underserved populations and opening a Federally Qualified Community Health Center (FQHC), Equitas Health strives to guarantee access to high quality healthcare for everyone.
Vulnerable groups include those with limited financial resources, low health literacy levels or living in areas where there are insufficient healthcare professionals. They may also include elderly individuals, people living with disabilities, children, racial and ethnic minorities as well as those who are homeless or unable to afford adequate housing.
People with limited access to medical care are at greater risk for poorer health outcomes, such as higher rates of chronic disease, injury and death. This is especially true for those without access to health insurance or who lack coverage altogether.
Many members of these groups are disproportionately exposed to the negative consequences of social and economic conditions, such as poverty, inadequate education, unemployment, inadequate nutrition, exposure to toxic substances and low levels of physical activity. Furthermore, many individuals within these communities may have endured discrimination at some point in their lives.
For instance, many PLWH are subject to discriminatory laws that make having HIV positive status illegal in some states. Activists are working to modernize these regulations and decriminalize those with the virus.
The Social Impact
Equitas Health, formerly AIDS Resource Center Ohio, is one of the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ and HIV/AIDS-serving healthcare organizations. Their mission is to be a beacon for good health for those at risk or affected by HIV/AIDS as well as for members of the LGBTQ community.
For over 25 years, ARC Ohio has offered a safe and supportive environment to those affected by HIV/AIDS, as well as providing an extensive healthcare system that includes primary and specialized medical care, pharmacy services, dentistry services, behavioral health services and HIV/STI treatment and prevention. In 2016, they extended their mission to include wider communities by rebranding themselves as Equitas Health.
Today, the organization serves tens of thousands of patients annually across 19 offices located in 13 cities throughout Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia with its comprehensive healthcare and social service delivery system that specializes in primary medical care, pharmacy services, dental work, behavioral health services, HIV/STI treatment/prevention initiatives such as PrEP/PEP use and Ryan White case management; plus advocacy work and community health initiatives.
Equitas Health operates its community pharmacies as a social enterprise, investing all profits back into its programs and services. Equitas Health Pharmacy & Priz provides access to medications and supplies to patients of all income levels - even those who may have limited or no access to affordable healthcare services.
Equitas Health Pharmacy & Priz and the rest of their system have expanded, necessitating them to raise more revenue in order to maintain current service levels. To this end, Equitas Health hired Benefactor Group as their strategic fundraising revenue and expense budget advisor as well as development plan with metrics for measuring progress towards that objective.
Equitas Health system has received numerous accolades for its work with the LGBT community, including Cincinnati Business Courier’s “Business of the Month” award and Cincinnati Foundation’s “Equitas Health-Cincinnati’s Most Inclusive Healthcare Organization.” Its efforts to combat stigma and discrimination experienced by LGBTQ people throughout Ohio are applauded.
In Conclusion
Equitas Health is a leading advocate for healthcare access, focusing on providing quality care to the LGBTQ+ community as well as medically underserved populations. With 17 locations throughout Ohio, Equitas Health offers a range of services, including primary care, behavioral health, and dental care, to tens of thousands of patients annually. Their dedication to eliminating disparities in healthcare access and understanding the social determinants of health sets them apart as a model for healthcare organizations across the country.
Equitas Health’s mission is not just about treating illness, but empowering lives. By investing in its pharmacies as social enterprises and providing specialized services for those living with HIV, hepatitis C, and other chronic illnesses, Equitas Health is revolutionizing how healthcare is provided. The organization’s mobile health fleet and sexual health clinic are also examples of its commitment to reaching underserved communities and creating a safe workplace for LGBTQ+ employees. Equitas Health’s tireless efforts to make healthcare accessible to everyone, regardless of their background, continues to make a significant impact in the communities it serves.
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