Northwell Receives Health Equity Award For COVID-19 Response

Northwell Health is being recognized by the Cigna Group for its’ Innovative and Collaborative COVID-19 Response. Through Cigna Group’s Collaborative Accountable Care (CAC) program, Northwell has won the Health Equity Action Silver Award.

In 2020 Northwell Health was the first healthcare system in New York State to bring testing access directly into communities of need.  Northwell emerged as a national leader addressing the disproportionate impact the pandemic had on vulnerable, low-income populations.

After a comprehensive assessment of disparities in specific communities, the healthcare system set up a health equity taskforce to work directly with local faith leaders and government officials to address the concerns within their communities.

Northwell was able to set up vaccine sites and convenient COVID-19 testing in areas where the need was critical.

“New York City was the center of the epicenter during the COVID-19 pandemic. Northwell Health responded and worked with our health systems and our communities particularly those that were disproportionately devastated by COVID-19 to ensure the safe and equitable distribution of the vaccine,” said Debbie Salas-Lopez, MD, MPH, senior vice president of community and population health for Northwell Health. “Today, the Northwell Health Equity Task Force, which includes many community and faith-based organizations, continues to meet in an effort to tackle long-standing health and social disparities that exist withing our communities.”

To date Northwell Health has provided more than 700,00 vaccine doses at over 1,100 faith-based locations and pop-up sites set up within communities. More than half of those vaccines have been administered to people in areas where the need is greatest. Additionally, Northwell has distributed more than 12,500 copies of culturally competent educational materials and resource guides.

Northwell Health was one of only three healthcare systems chosen from many providers across the country to be recognized by The Cigna Group’s CAC Health Equity Awards. The Cigna Group is a global health company which includes Cigna Healthcare a healthcare benefits provider.