Client Spotlight Series: Chase Brexton Health Care
Posted in: News
Our clients are the sole purpose for everything we do at PSA and each of them has an interesting story to tell. Our client spotlight series allows us to shine light on some of our partners as we learn more about their stories and the background of their business. This month we wanted to highlight Chase Brexton Health Care for not only their extraordinary health care services and treatment options, but also as an organization that honors diversity, addresses health inequities, and advances health and wellness.
History
Chase Brexton was founded in Baltimore in 1978 as a volunteer-run gay men’s health clinic. The clinic was one of the first of its kind in the Baltimore community in efforts to fight against HIV and AIDS. In the early 1990s, Chase Brexton Health Care expanded their services to include behavioral health, social work and primary care services. Since then, the medical center has expanded its locations and has earned numerous recognitions, such as accreditations from The Joint Commission, for their well renowned services.
As a 501(c)(3) non-profit medical center, Chase Brexton serves more than 40,000 patients per year offering a wide range of both behavioral health services and primary medical care. Some of these services include HIV & Infectious Diseases, Dental Care, OB/GYN, Therapy, Psychiatry, Social Work, Pediatrics, etc.
Q&A
As an organization whose core values are respect, compassion, patient-focused care and innovation, Chase Brexton provides support and care for patients of all ages, races, gender identities, religions, sexual orientations, ethnicities, and socioeconomic statuses.
In order to dive deeper into learning more about Chase Brexton’s efforts to end health care disparities, I was fortunate enough to have the chance to interview both Aya Shuman, MS and Sam McClure, Chase Brexton Health Care’s respective Executive Directors of The Institute for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and The Center for LGBTQ Healthy Equity. Read on to learn more about their equity and diversity efforts as well as some tips and recommendations they have for how to exemplify inclusion practices in your business.
PSA: What Recommendations do You have for Companies to Create Inclusive Environments?
Aya Shuman, MS: “There are many ways to create more inclusive work environments, but success in this arena will be limited if companies do not identify and connect with their unique “why.” Why is inclusivity important to you? Why does it matter? Answering these questions is the difference between simply going through the motions and seeking to appear more inclusive, vs. creating effective equity, diversity and inclusion programs that truly resonate with those they seek to reach. Identifying why inclusivity is important to your organization involves taking a deep dive into the current climate. Where are the gaps? What are existing organizational strengths? What are the growth opportunities? Gather feedback from leadership and non-leadership alike. Poll your entire team at every level and commit to turning the feedback received into an action plan. Learn what matters to your team. The goal is to ensure that the very makeup of your organization is informed by those who run it and creates space for all to thrive.”
PSA: What Is the Most Challenging Aspect of Working in a Diverse Environment?
Aya Shuman, MS: “Working in a diverse environment is extremely fulfilling, however, the world outside the walls of Chase Brexton is not always welcoming to our diverse patients and staff. Hate crimes are on the rise and the greater Chase Brexton community has seen and felt the trauma-inducing effects firsthand. Being a champion for diversity, health equity, inclusivity and anti-racism at times feels like an uphill battle and the sheer enormity of work can feel quite daunting. One can choose to look at this as an insurmountable task, or a challenge that we’re willing to embark on. We choose the latter every day, knowing that our efforts positively impact the diverse communities we serve.”
PSA: How can Individuals Support LGBTQ+ communities?
Sam McClure: “Showing up is always a good first step. Walk through the festivals, talk to people and learn about LGBTQ organizations. When you find yourself in alignment with an organization’s mission, donate. Then remember that these people and these organizations are here all year and stay connected to the needs of the community. Be an ally by staying active in public policy paying attention to the gaps in non-discrimination laws.”
PSA: What Do You Love Most About Working at Chase Brexton?
Aya Shuman, MS: “Chase Brexton is a mission-driven organization filled with individuals committed to creating positive change. It is an organization that is willing to disrupt the status quo. It’s somewhat easy to turn your attention to the issues that exist around you, but very rare to work within an organization that is also willing to look within and explore our own blind spots. There is a comfort in working for an organization that invites such innovative approaches to equity, diversity and inclusion.”
PSA: How Does Health Insurance Play into Providing Equitable Health Services to your Employees?
Aya Shuman, MS: “We all know that healthcare can be very expensive. The uninsured and underinsured are both susceptible to poor health status which often leads to staggering health disparities within under– resourced populations. A key part of our mission is to address health inequities and advance wellness in the communities we serve. This extends to our employees as well. Chase Brexton Health Care offers our full-time staff employer-sponsored health insurance options and those with limited household incomes a sliding fee scale to provide them with a discount on healthcare services and prescriptions. Employer-sponsored health insurance plans and sliding fee scales help our employees save money and ensure that our team has equitable access to the care they need. ”
PSA is proud to partner with and support our clients, and in turn, our community. If we can be of any assistance or if you have any questions about your insurance policies, please feel free to contact us.
