PBN Diversity Equity & Inclusion 2024 Awards
HEALTH CARE ENTERPRISE COMPANY: CVS Health Corp.
DIVERSITY IS VITAL to transforming health care and health equity, according to Erneshia Pinder, vice president of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging at CVS Health Corp. That, she says, includes championing an inclusive workplace, a diverse workforce and ensuring there are opportunities to excel within the Woonsocket-based pharmacy and health services conglomerate.
With approximately 6,900 local employees and more than 300,000 workers companywide, CVS’ workforce represents the diversity of the communities, patients and customers it serves, which currently comprises more than 25% of the total U.S. population.
The company has four DEIB core promises: supported with the heart; valued and included; inspired with a sense of belonging; and empowered and engaged. Pinder says CVS’ strategy for these promises is to champion an environment where everyone feels valued, supported and empowered to reach their full potential by actively embedding DEIB deeper into the company’s enterprise, culture and talent strategies.
“Our strength and differentiation as an organization are empowered by valuing and acting on our diverse perspectives and experiences,” Pinder said. “CVS Health is a place of many opportunities for all to achieve extraordinary results.”
In 2020, CVS announced it would invest nearly $600 million over five years to advance initiatives that address inequities faced by Black and other disenfranchised communities. Pinder says CVS continuously advances health equity for its colleagues, customers, members and patients by expanding access to affordable care. For the company, health equity is not a series of programs, but a way of doing business, she says.
“We empower, educate and mobilize colleagues so we can all contribute to expanding access to equitable care. How we put our commitment into action includes [these approaches]: empower colleagues, measure what matters and take bold actions,” Pinder said.
That investment includes CVS in 2023 launching its CVS Health Community Equity Alliance, which expands the community health worker workforce, enhances connections between health care institutions and communities, and addresses disparities in health outcomes. Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tenn., Sinai Chicago in Chicago and Wayne State University in Detroit were among the first institutions across the U.S. to join the alliance, Pinder says.
CVS’ commitment to fostering an inclusive environment is one in which every voice is heard, respected and valued. Pinder says the company continues to build from the influence of its leaders to create inclusive teams – encouraging open dialogue, collaboration and mentorship throughout the organization.
With that, CVS offers expansive programming for the company’s colleague resource groups that provide a platform for employees to connect, share experiences and drive positive change. Comprising a community of approximately 30,000 members across the country in more than 80 national chapters, the company’s 17 CRGs are instrumental in growing CVS’ retention rates by shaping DEIB initiatives, fostering a sense of belonging and supporting career development.
CVS also amplifies employees’ voices and leverages their insights to influence decision-making, ensure representation and advocate for equitable policies within its enterprise. The company reports that it continuously creates equitable access to workplace growth and development opportunities by providing employees with resources, training and development programs that support them in their current roles, while planning and preparing for future growth.
In measuring its return on investment in addressing any inequities and its DEIB initiatives, CVS understands that such investment return means different things to different stakeholders. Pinder says that for some, it’s about accessing affordable and supportive housing at one of the company’s many affordable housing investments across the country.
Others view it as about having access to free health screenings through Project Health to help identify and treat chronic illnesses that would have otherwise gone undetected, Pinder says.
Patients and colleagues at CVS also see positive benefits on the company investing heavily in addressing inequities, Pinder says.
“For our patients, the [return on investment] is access to affordable and equitable health care, which is driving better health outcomes, including for individuals in historically underrepresented communities,” she said. “For our colleagues, [it] is increased engagement and belonging scores, which is evidence of a culture that is welcoming and inclusive.”
