Discover more insights and resources on advancing inclusive healthcare
What if we could make healthcare truly inclusive?
Building healthcare that sees every patient
A vision for inclusive care
What if we could reimagine healthcare as a truly inclusive system—one that reflects the diversity of every community and ensures every patient is seen, heard, and cared for? At Elsevier, we believe this future is possible through collaboration, innovation, and a shared commitment to equity.
Healthcare touches every life, yet disparities persist. From clinics to classrooms, individuals encounter care that may not fully consider their needs. These gaps erode trust and hinder outcomes.
A system built for some, not all
Inequities in care are daily realities, not just statistics. These disparities appear when a grandmother cannot find a provider who understands her culture, or a father’s symptoms don’t match textbook profiles. Even future clinicians are left behind when educational materials fail to reflect the communities they’ll serve. Gaps in health outcomes—such as hospitalization rates, maternal health, and access to care—remain persistent, especially among historically marginalized groups. Addressing these challenges demands continuous, collaborative effort.
Let’s consider the scale:
Patients from underrepresented backgrounds often face misdiagnosis and delayed treatment
Medical education has lacked the diversity found in real populations
Healthcare professionals may feel unprepared to meet each patient’s needs
These challenges highlight the need for a healthcare system that centers equity and supports providers in delivering care to all.
To build a system that serves everyone, confronting bias is essential—whether in data, technology, education, or decision-making. Bias can reinforce inequities, shaping outcomes in subtle but significant ways, from diagnostic criteria that overlook some populations to care algorithms that disadvantage others. Addressing bias forms the foundation of inclusion.
Ensuring access to quality, evidence-based information and a deep understanding of diverse populations is key. Inclusive content for research and learning helps ensure that educational materials, clinical guidelines, and research reflect the realities and needs of all communities. When training, tools, and care environments recognize and challenge blind spots—and when solutions are informed by accurate data and inclusive resources representing every population—we open the way to better health outcomes for everyone.
Elsevier has been on a journey to increase the representation of inclusiveness in our evidence-based content to break down barriers and silos.
KH
Kevonne Holloway
Managing Director, Global Content Partners at Elsevier
Responsible innovation—particularly in artificial intelligence—plays a pivotal role in this effort. As Rhett Alden, Chief Technology Officer of Elsevier Health Markets, notes: “Focusing a bit more on personalization is really looking at how those factors can be included in treatment options and care options.” Thoughtfully designed tools can help tailor care to individual needs, reducing bias and improving outcomes.
That’s why leaders now prioritize ethical frameworks alongside technology. Approaches grounded in transparency, accountability, and equity help ensure digital transformation benefits everyone, rather than deepening divides. With intentional design, modern tools can anticipate and address inequities, bringing us closer to healthcare that serves every patient.
Starting with education
What if inclusivity is seen as a compass for the next generation of impact makers? Inclusivity begins with education and future healthcare providers are holding us accountable – 75% of medical and nursing students globally expect the healthcare workforce will be more diverse and better represent the local population in the future.
As healthcare grows more complex, representative education and training is necessary. Immersing students in diverse patient scenarios, whether in real time or via simulation, builds cultural understanding and clinical competence. Elsevier is committed to supporting this through the diversity of their teams curating and building inclusive solutions.
I think Elsevier is making huge strides forward here. We want to make sure that the teams that are building our products have a wide range of experience and comfortable wide range of backgrounds. So, we’re always considering and questioning our latest ideas through the lens of inclusivity.
IW
Irene Walsh
Senior Director Product, Education Design at Elsevier
Building tools for everyone
Care improves when healthcare professionals see both their patients and them reflected in clinical resources and guidelines. Diverse representation isn’t just equitable—it builds empathy and respect for every background and experience.
Healthcare tools must also be designed for inclusion from the start. Accessible and adaptable clinical platforms close care gaps, reduce bias, and empower professionals to deliver high-quality care to all.
When tools and resources reflect the populations they serve, patients feel seen, and are more likely to seek care, follow guidance, and build trusted relationships.
Advancing healthcare equity together
Transformation requires collaboration among clinicians, educators, informaticists, patients, and communities. When we ask, “What if we could make healthcare truly inclusive?” we invite everyone to help create that future.
What’s needed now is the collective will to build a healthcare system where everyone belongs, every story is heard, and each person receives the care they deserve. Kevonne Holloway is excited about Elsevier's role in this future: "We are a part of changing the healthcare system, making it more equitable for all and making it more accessible for all, while also helping physicians and clinicians improve patient outcomes."
That future is possible. It begins with believing that healthcare can—and must—work for every patient.