Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging History

In 2014, Crouse formed the Diversity and Inclusion Committee, comprised of employees from multiple areas as way to bring attention to helping Crouse become a more diverse employer, to better serve both the organization and the community with three key goals in mind:

1. To educate the Crouse Health community about the importance and value of DEI&B.
2. Increase professional opportunities for Crouse Health employees, with an emphasis on DEI&B, and
3. To increase awareness of the Crouse brand in diverse communities.

Today, as a leading healthcare employer in Central New York, it is critical for Crouse Health to strategically focus on addressing employee retention and health disparities in our community. As a natural progression, we expanded our focus to include equity and belonging in October 2023.

At Crouse Health, we enhance our existing culture by creating an inclusive environment where:

• Practices, processes, policies, and programs create the ideal experience for patients, families, and employees.
• All are treated with fairness, respect, and dignity.
• All can contribute thoughts and ideas from their unique background and experiences.
• All have opportunities to grow and advance within the organization.

Crouse Health recognizes our employees are integral to our culture. Our goal is to maximize each employee’s authenticity, unique talents and potential. With strong support and participation from the Crouse Health Boards, leadership and management teams, and the DEI&B Advisory Board, we will continue to build a more diverse, inclusive productive, and happy workforce.

Each year, our organization completes The Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Annual Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) and in 2024, Crouse Health achieved High-Performer status. We offer CME-accredited LGBTQ training through the National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center, annual DEI&B computer-based learning (CBL), and in-person educational sessions. Additionally, in 2024, Crouse Health became a certified Great Place to Work organization and was awarded the Business of the Year Award (Businesses with more than 50 employees) by CenterState CEO.

To further enhance our commitment to a diverse and inclusive culture, Crouse signed on as a participant of the American Hospital Association’s ‘Pledge for Equity‘ initiative, which aims to address disparities in care delivery and increase diversity in hospital leadership and governance. Crouse is also a participating organization in the NYS Birth Equity Improvement Plan project and HANYS’ Advancing Healthcare Excellence and Inclusion program.

Our DEI&B Mission Statement is: Crouse Health values diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging among its employees, patients, families and the communities we serve.

DEI&B Definitions

At Crouse Health, we define Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEI&B) as follows:

Diversity: The presence of differences within a given setting, encompassing a wide range of human attributes and experiences.

Equity: Fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all employees and creating positive cultural patient-centered experiences. Our goal is to provide outstanding, inclusive, accessible service and equitable treatment to one another and patients.

Inclusion: Creating environments in which any individual or group feels welcomed, respected, supported, and valued to fully participate.

Belonging: An employee is most productive and passionate about one’s work when permitted to authentically show up each day. Creating spaces where employees feel valued through positive connections with others create connectedness, respect and value for all.