Connecting the Dots
Healthy conversations are vital to every person having the healthiest life they can have.
At MetroHealth, these conversations are shaping six areas of focus—highlighted on this website—that not only help us connect the dots of good health for our patients, but also build a hospital system where every individual can be seen, be heard, and be well.
MetroHealth has been holding a series of “Healthy Conversations,” opportunities for President & CEO Dr. Airica Steed to listen to our community. What we have heard is this: we have a health equity problem in our community, and MetroHealth is eager to be part of the solution.
At MetroHealth, we’re focused on six key areas:
Acknowledging Our Barriers to Equity
In our local community:
4
Black babies die at nearly 4 times the rate of White babies
2
People of color die from pregnancy-related causes at more than double the rate of white women
42
of Black people in Cleveland are obese
35
of non-Black people of color in Cleveland are obese
80
of a person’s health depends on factors beyond medical care
31
of people in Cleveland are uninsured, underinsured, or rely on Medicaid for coverage
MY STORY:
Dr. Airica Steed
I know firsthand about what a lack of health equity can mean for the people we serve.
My mother died at 46 because of a rare form of leukemia—one that was initially misdiagnosed—and our family did not receive important information about the risks of the experimental treatment she received. My grandmothers died of breast cancer—and one was misdiagnosed twice, preventing her from getting necessary care.
Despite that family history, my sister was denied early screenings for breast cancer and died at age 39. And even though I experienced preeclampsia twice—and even though Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes—I was not offered high-risk pregnancy care and was in critical condition while two of my children struggled for survival as premature infants.
As a Black woman, I know the terror that inequality can bring. As a local resident, I know that Cleveland is the second worst city in the country for health outcomes among Black women. And as a healthcare leader, I know MetroHealth can eradicate these disparities. Our region needs a hospital capable of caring for those who need care the most.
