If you’re reading this, you are likely part of an organization trying to make maximum impact in a world of limits. As you consider the many possible routes to good change, I have one piece of advice: Chart a clear course.  

Not long ago, I had the opportunity to shadow a community health advocate at one of our Social Health Alliance partner hospitals. I went in expecting to observe a workflow — a screening tool, a referral platform, a process. What I left with was something harder to categorize.

It’s easy to focus on process improvement from an efficiency lens: how can we streamline our efforts to do more work, better. We use that lens too, but we do not stop there. Improving processes is an equity strategy, not just an operational one. 

For people with health insurance, colorectal cancer screening is an unpleasant “to do” item every 5 – 10 years. For those without insurance, screening and, if needed, access to diagnostic and treatment services may be aspirational, not something easily checked off a list.