Riverside Health System and the Urban League of Hampton Roads Announce Partnership

Partnership to address racial health disparities and social determinants of health

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (April 7, 2022) – Bill Downey, CEO for Riverside Health System along with Gilbert Bland, President & CEO for the Urban League of Hampton Roads, announced a new partnership to expand health, workforce, and educational opportunities in our community. This significant investment reflects Riverside Health System’s commitment to the Urban League of Hampton Roads to address racial health disparities and social determinants of health for the Hampton Roads community.

“We are proud to announce our significant partnership with The Urban League of Hampton Roads,” stated Downey. “Our investment with the Urban League represents a direct investment to under-resourced populations and communities who will benefit from improved access to quality health care services and programs designed to help address racial health disparities. We are proud to partner with one of the oldest civil rights organizations in the country to help us better serve and support historically marginalized communities throughout Hampton Roads.”

According to the Virginia Department of Health, the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) are a major determinant of population health outcomes. Depending on how they are measured and defined, SDOH may account for up to 90% of the variation in health outcomes between communities. Previous analysis examined how factors such as race and ethnicity, occupation, poverty and rurality, and housing play a role in COVID-19 outcomes in Virginia and elsewhere. Access to health resources is often a factor underlying health disparities, while increasing access can help alleviate disparities created by other factors. Millions have lost jobs or income since the start of the pandemic, making it difficult to pay expenses including basic needs like food and housing. These challenges will ultimately affect people’s health and well-being, as they influence social determinants of health.

“We are humbled by Riverside’s significant investment to the Urban League of Hampton Roads and commitment to reduce disproportionate levels of chronic diseases and health outcomes among marginalized communities of color,” mentioned Gil Bland, President & CEO for the Urban League of Hampton Roads. “Virginia is home to the 8th largest black population in the country and mirrors similar poor health outcomes, including high blood pressure and cholesterol, heart disease, prostate cancer, breast cancer, among others. Today’s announcement aligns with the nation’s focus on Minority Health throughout the month of April to bring greater awareness about chronic health disparities, the impact of social determinants of health for communities of color and solutions to address them. We are proud to partner alongside Riverside Health System to help the Hampton Roads community.” The partnership between Riverside and ULHR will help address Social Determinants of Health outcomes in Education, Employment, Health and Housing through the following initiatives throughout 2022:

Education: Project Ready High School Career & College Program

A National Urban League Pillar Program designed to prepare African Americans and other historically underserved high school youth for college and careers.

Employment: Riverside Diverse Workforce

This includes but is not limited to ULHR year-round initiatives such as COVID-19 Vaccine Education and Outreach, Food Basket Distribution and Outreach, Back to School Supplies Distribution and Outreach, ULHR Young Professionals & Guild Volunteer Engagement, and others.

Health: Food as Medicine Program

To underscore the importance of diet and nutrition to overall health, Riverside Health System will launch a pilot Food as Medicine Program for underserved residents with limited access to healthy foods, and high reported rates of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, and other comorbidities.

About Urban League of Hampton Roads

The mission of the Urban League of Hampton Roads, Inc. is to enable African Americans and others to secure economic self-reliance, parity and power and civil rights. The Urban League implements its mission by providing services and programs in education, employment, health, and housing to Hampton Roads communities through direct services, advocacy, research, policy analysis, community mobilization and collaboration throughout communities.

About Riverside Health System

Riverside Health System is an integrated health network touching two million lives annually. Serving Eastern Virginia since 1915, Riverside is guided by a mission to “care for others as we would care for those we love.” The health system offers a variety of services and programs in the areas of prevention, primary care, diagnostics, neurosciences, oncology, orthopedics, aging-related services, rehabilitation, medical education, home care and hospice. Riverside operates four acute care hospitals and a behavioral health hospital, in addition to a physical rehabilitation hospital and Critical Illness Recovery Hospital in partnership with Select Medical. Riverside Medical Group has more than 700 physicians and advanced practice providers across a broad spectrum of specialties in over 75 locations throughout the region. Riverside Lifelong Health operates six nursing home facilities and three vibrant continuing care retirement communities, and Home Health and Hospice services. In addition to these health care services, Riverside operates the College of Health Careers and four medical residency programs. The company employs more than 9,000 team members throughout Eastern Virginia. For more information on Riverside, visit riversideonline.com.

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