Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare (MAHC) is committed to advancing equity and inclusion, addressing bias and discrimination, and celebrating diversity in order to achieve better outcomes for patients, families, providers, and staff. Ensuring an environment free of barriers where all people feel free to be who they are is key to providing the health care that all members of our community deserve in a workplace where our teams are also supported.
MAHC is focused on employing the right people to provide the best possible health care. The organization encourages applicants from underrepresented and equity-seeking groups because reflecting the diversity of our community in our governance, leadership and workforce is important.
In June 2021, the MAHC Board of Directors approved an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Policy. This policy sets MAHC’s commitment and continued path forward by focusing on four main pillars of delivering an exemplary patient experience, embracing our community, empowering our people, and ensuring health equity as follows:
| Delivering an exemplary patient experience | Embracing our community | Empowering our people | Ensuring health equity |
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MAHC will:
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MAHC will:
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MAHC is committed to the principle that every person is entitled to work and/or receive care in a respectful, positive environment, free from all forms of discrimination, harassment, and exclusion. MAHC acknowledges staff and credentialed staff receive have the opportunity to acquire knowledge and skills to identify and eliminate discriminatory biases and systemic racism. |
MAHC is committed to fair and equitable access to health care through community partnerships and engagement of underrepresented groups. |
Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Anti-Racism (IDEA) Committee
MAHC is excited to form an Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Anti-Racism (IDEA) Committee. The initial focus of this committee will be to develop an inclusion, diversity, equity and anti-racism action plan for MAHC. The purpose of the IDEA Committee is to:
- Provide opportunities to come together to help chart MAHC’s path forward in an inclusive way.
- Provide a venue for idea generation; and
- Implement strategies to create a more inclusive and equitable place to work and receive care.
The IDEA Committee will be comprised of patients and family members of patients from Muskoka and area, as well as MAHC staff and credentialed staff who have a personal commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity and anti-racism. These members are committed to fostering an organization-wide approach to delivering an exemplary patient experience, embracing our community so that the perspectives and needs of all are recognized and addressed, empowering our people to ensure that every person is entitled to work and/or receive care in a respectful and positive environment, and ensuring health equity.
Honouring Diversity in March
International Women's Day - March 8, 2023
The campaign theme for International Women’s Day (IWD) on March 8 is #EmbraceEquity, with the aim of getting the world talking about why equal opportunities aren’t enough. We can all embrace equity and create an inclusive world within our own sphere of influence to forge women's equality. We encourage our team members to strike the IWD #EmbraceEquity and challenge gender stereotypes, call out discrimination, draw attention to bias, and seek out inclusion.
Source: International Women's Day
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination - March 21, 2023
Each March 21, we recognize the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. In 1966, the United Nations proclaimed the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in commemoration of the lives of 69 people who were killed in 1960 while participating in a peaceful demonstration against apartheid laws in Sharpeville, South Africa. As we pause and reflect on this day, we encourage our team members to foster a global culture of tolerance, equality and anti-discrimination and stand up against racial prejudice and intolerant attitudes. Together we will #FightRacism.
Source: United Nations
International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade - March 25, 2023
For over 400 years, more than 15 million men, women and children were subjected to mass trafficking, unspeakable human rights violations and death during the transatlantic slave trade. On March 25, we remember and honour those who suffered and died at the hands of the brutal slavery system, one of the darkest chapters in human history. As we remember, may we also unite to raise awareness about the dangers of racism and prejudice that is still faced today.
Source: United Nations
International Transgender Day of Visibility - March 31, 2023
On March 31, we celebrate transgender people and acknowledge the courage it takes to live openly and authentically. While we celebrate the contributions and accomplishments of our trans community, we recognize there is still work to be done to raise awareness of discrimination faced by trans people worldwide and equality for all transgender people.
Sources: Human Rights Campaign, Wikipedia, LGBT Foundation
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