Health Equity Spotlight: Dr. Jay Bhatt
Sharp Index Awards Finalist: Health Equity Leader
“Health equity ensures the fair and just opportunity to obtain care,” says Dr. Jay Bhatt, Executive Director of the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions. He has dedicated much of his storied career to meeting the needs of underserved and vulnerable populations. However, he identifies a mismatch between health equity and healthcare spending. “We are back to 1996 life expectancy despite a $3 trillion annual increase in healthcare expenditures.” The issue has become widespread, with glaring disparities in his own backyard: “4 stops on [Chicago’s] L train can mean a decade’s difference in life expectancy.”
There will be no one solution to the challenges of health equity, and Dr. Bhatt has accordingly worked on a variety of solutions: through technology investments, policy change, shifts in care delivery, as well as improvements to access and system design. His work drives progress at the intersection of healthcare and public health, where he addresses issues ranging from disparities in COVID19 illness and vaccine uptake, to seatbelts and transportation safety, to maternal health.
Through Dr. Bhatt’s role at Deloitte, he analyzes the larger economic impact of health equity issues. “It is a moral and business imperative,” he emphasizes. A June 2022 report highlighted that health inequities cost the US health system $320B annually and continue to grow. He hopes reports like this can shift the mindset of decisionmakers to re-organize healthcare’s system, structure, and payments to improve equity.
Dr. Bhatt’s work shows the importance of collaboration within and across organizations. “Some organizations are making bold steps forward: investing, measuring, and demonstrating change for health equity. It requires coordination across the enterprise.” With health systems and plans increasingly adding Health Equity officers to their leadership team, he encourages the financial and operational strategy to support them – a budget. Although some organizations are starting small and making directional moves, Dr. Bhatt celebrates the dozens of coalitions in support of these efforts, “Public-private partnership is critical and no one organization can [solve for health equity] alone.” He cites three factors to a successful collaboration: “Influence decisionmakers. Convene key stakeholders. Build communities”.
Dr. Bhatt previously served as the vice president and Chief Medical Officer of the American Hospital Association, managing deputy commissioner and chief innovation officer for the Chicago Department of Public Health, and senior executive at the Illinois Health and Hospital Association. He has practiced as an internist and geriatrician at Chicago’s Erie Family Health Center and continues to serve community health centers in Illinois.
Guest Author: Corinne Stroum.
Corinne Stroum is a subject matter expert on the data footprint of healthcare: clinical or claims-based, she is experienced with structured data, patient experience surveys, socio-economic factors and social determinants, and unstructured notes.
The Sharp Index Awards are a yearlong celebration of the good news in healthcare. Winners are nominated throughout the year for their work. Dr. Bhatt was nominated as a leader in Health Equity.
There is much work to do, and healthcare healing involves everyone. This year, winners will be announced at HealthIMPACT East in New York City.
