Health Evolution interviewed Sachin Jain, MD President & CEO of SCAN Group and Health Plan at the most recent Health Evolution Summit 2021. Jain discussed the three buckets of work SCAN is undertaking to diversify its business, transforming the culture, why health care needs a Civil Rights movement, why calling social determinants of health by that term is inhibiting progress toward equity and more.
Below are three highlights from the conversation.
On leading culture change to focus on ‘the art of the possible’
“I want us to be an organization that inspires and shows people the art of the possible, and that really has to come from cultural transformation, internally for the organization. And some of the things you referenced, our homeless medical group, our focus on actually closing health disparities—not just talking about them—are ways in which we hope to do that.”
On being a victim of racism
“When you’ve been a victim of racism as many of us have, you develop a sensitivity to not necessarily fitting in and now always feeling like you’re fitting in. So one of my objectives as a leader is to create a highly-inclusive workplace so regardless of your race, your gender, your sexual orientation or identity, SCAN is a place you feel comfortable. And we’re extending that comfort also to the members and to the people we serve.”
On driving business excellence to serve diverse communities
“We actually see diversity as a business opportunity. There are opportunities for us to grow more by serving diverse populations and ultimately unlocking new populations that we can serve. That unlocking happens when you create specialized programs, services, and solutions to serve those populations. We are headquartered in Southern California, one of the most ethnically and racially diverse communities in America. Our opportunity is to drive business excellence by serving those diverse communities, as opposed to seeing it as a check-the-box activity. That’s aligned with our mission and our growth story.”
