April 6, 2023

S3 E6: Putting the "I" in Inclusion with Arlene Harms

Rio Grande Hospital in Del Norte, Colorado serves a population of 10,000 people in the wintertime, but in the summer, that number increases threefold to a beautifully diverse mix. Beyond the need to make sure they’re serving patients well is the need for prioritizing inclusivity and breaking down barriers so everyone has equal access to care. Language is a large contributer to those barriers, but even fear of prejudice is something that has to be addressed. In this episode, CEO Arlene Harms shares a story about what inclusion has meant for her hospital and how it has changed her perspective as a whole. Along the way, you’ll also learn about their plans for building healthier spaces for healing, no matter where patients come from.

On this episode, you’ll hear:
[01:02] Getting to know Rio Grande
[03:08] How they’re reaching stigmatized populations
[11:08] How their hospital has benefited from inclusion
[15:43] Taking inspiration from the Blue Zones
[22:12] How they ensure inclusion is happening among employees
[24:48] Going beyond the four walls