Equity and Accessibility
At Sinai Health, equity and accessibility are integral to the care we provide as well as to our workplace culture.
Advancing health equity
We are committed to advancing health equity for patients, families and caregivers. This means delivering care that is accessible, inclusive and respectful of all.
Health equity is the public heath concept in which every individual can achieve their full health potential. This means everyone can receive quality care that meets their unique needs, regardless of their circumstances, possessions or identity. (Health Quality Ontario, 2016).
We apply an equity approach to everything we do - from patient safety to quality improvement, including:
- Working closely with diverse communities to understand and address barriers to care
- Partnering with patients, families and caregivers
- Educating our people
- Collecting data to identify and close gaps in care
In short, we strive to deliver compassionate and culturally responsive care to everyone. Health equity is central to our mission of improving health across the lifespan.
Strengthening equity
Equity is integrated into our quality improvement efforts. The annual Quality Improvement Plan outlines measurable goals to improve care.
We aim to enhance:
- Access to care
- Patient experience
- Safety
- Outcomes, particularly for communities who face systemic barriers to care
We are working to deliver more responsive, inclusive and effective health care for everyone.
The committee leads efforts to systematically reduce health inequities and promote accessibility across Sinai Health. Its primary focus is to advance health equity for patients, families, caregivers and the communities we serve.
In addition, the committee works to improve accessibility for all members of the Sinai Health community, including employees, physicians, scientists, learners and volunteers.
Guided by the Sinai Health Strategic Plan, the committee uses data and feedback from our community to inform its decisions and recommendations. Its membership includes a diverse group of patients, family advisors and people from key programs across the organization.
We are working to create a more accessible environment across all Sinai Health sites. This includes:
- Improving the accessibility of physical spaces
- Enhancing accessibility in care
- Strengthening communication supports
- Providing accessibility training for our people to remove barriers for patients, families, caregivers, employees, physicians, scientists, learners and volunteers
Our accessibility initiatives are guided by the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and feedback from our community. We aim to ensure that everyone — regardless of ability — can navigate, understand and fully participate in their care and in the workplace.
Clear communication is essential to safe, person-centred care. We offer professional interpretation in more than 65 languages. Interpreter services are also available for patients who are Deaf or hard of hearing.
These services are provided free of charge. They help ensure that every patient can express their needs and understand their care.
Advancing people equity: Our commitment to reconciliation, equity, diversity, and inclusion (REDI)
Our goal is to improve equity for our people. We want to create environments where all people feel respected and supported. This means taking meaningful action to help everyone feel like they belong, especially those who are Indigenous and from equity-deserving groups.
Actions to create equitable outcomes
One of our top priorities is to carry out Sinai Health’s Anti-Racism Action Plan. This plan helps us make sure that everyone is treated fairly, no matter their race or ethnicity. It plays a key role in our REDI work. The Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respectful Workplace department is leading this work.
The REDI Advisory Committee gives guidance on how to make our workplace more fair and inclusive. It works with the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Respectful Workplace department and uses ideas like intersectional equity, wise practice and community knowledge to shape its work.
Committee membership includes employees, physicians, and labour partners from many areas of Sinai Health. This helps ensure a wide range of ideas and perspectives are included.
We are committed to a safe, respectful and inclusive environment. We do not tolerate harassment or discrimination. The Ontario Human Rights Code protects people in the workplace from unfair treatment based on grounds like race, gender, age, disability, religion, or family status. Our Code of Ethical Conduct explains how we prevent and respond to harassment or discrimination and how we resolve complaints.
We are committed to making sure everyone can access our workplace and opportunities. Sinai Health works to remove barriers that could unfairly prevent someone from participating.
Our Workplace Accommodation Policy explains how we support employees who need accommodations at work. This includes accommodations such as those related to pregnancy, breast/chestfeeding, gender identity, religion, family status or disability.