UHF Gala 2021 Program - Journal - Page 16
Improving Health and Health Care
for Every New Yorker
United Hospital Fund’s mission is to build an effective—and equitable—
health care system for every New Yorker.
That means health care that is affordable and accessible to all,
provides a better patient experience and the highest quality of care,
and achieves optimal health outcomes—with a special focus on
those facing the greatest barriers to good health and health care.
Our Unique Role in New York
Since 1879, UHF has been an important and effective force for health
care improvement, tackling persistent problems, stimulating
innovation, and prioritizing those most in need.
We conduct research and analyze public policy
to inform decision-makers.
We develop and support innovative programs
that improve health and health care.
We convene diverse stakeholders to find common
ground, solve problems, and advance new ideas.
Improving Quality
Wide variations in the quality of health care stubbornly persist throughout our health care
system and unacceptable inequities continue to exist, even though New York has some of the
best institutions and clinicians in the world.
Our Clinical Quality Fellowship Program is training the next generation of quality improvement
champions—more than 250 physicians and nurses to date, from more than 50 hospitals and health
care systems throughout the metropolitan area.
Our Quality Institute develops and promotes innovative strategies to improve health outcomes for
New Yorkers by strengthening and spreading best practices, enhancing quality measurement and
reporting, and better engaging and supporting patients and their families so that no one is left behind.
Our Skilled Nursing Learning Collaborative is working with partner skilled nursing facilities on
important quality issues such as improving transitions home so they are safer and more effective
for older, vulnerable, short-stay patients and their family caregivers.
Addressing Social Factors Driving Health Disparities
Stressors like inadequate housing, unemployment, poor nutrition, and poverty compound illness
and can cause lasting effects on physical and emotional well-being. There is an urgent demand
for innovative clinical- community partnerships to address these needs.
Our Pediatrics for an Equitable Developmental Start (PEDS) Network is a learning community
for pediatricians across New York, including a 15-month fellowship program, aimed at transforming
pediatric practices to achieve better health and educational outcomes for New York’s children and
strengthen families.
Our Framework for a Population Health Approach to Health and Housing Partnerships fostered
collaboration that facilitated the development of a pilot “medical respite” program to provide
recuperative care for New Yorkers experiencing homelessness as they leave the hospital.
Our Partnerships for Early Childhood Development initiative developed and strengthened
partnerships between pediatric primary care and community agencies to address families’
unmet social needs and promote healthy early childhood development and lifelong health.
Expanding Insurance Coverage and Access to Care
The Effects of COVID-19
COVID-19 has challenged our modern health care system
as never before. Extraordinary talent and commitment have
saved untold lives, but the pandemic has also spotlighted
unacceptable inequities and weaknesses in the way we
deliver and finance health care. UHF’s work is helping solve
the complex problems of today’s health care system that
were so starkly revealed and compounded by COVID-19.
Medicaid enrollment grew by 1 million New Yorkers during the pandemic, illustrating the
importance of the state’s safety net at a critical time. Helping to support and strengthen
Medicaid and other insurance programs is critical, as is continued attention to the needs of
more than 1 million New Yorkers who remain uninsured.
Our Health Insurance Project provides in-depth research and analysis to policymakers to help
protect and strengthen health insurance coverage and address complex, urgent issues that stand
between New Yorkers and affordable, quality health coverage and access to care.
Our Medicaid Institute works to improve health care for the more than 7 million New Yorkers who
rely on Medicaid. These include low-income workers, long-term care patients, individuals with
disabilities, and over 2 million children who live in low-income households.