The Oak Street Health ESG framework

The Oak Street ESG (environmental, social and governance) framework is structured around five pillars that underscore our mission to rebuild healthcare as it should be. We drive action through this framework to deliver on our commitment of helping older adults stay healthy and live life more fully. This overarching sense of responsibility guides us as we strive to meet the needs of our many stakeholders.

This year we conducted a materiality assessment, reviewing, assessing and ranking the relative importance of ESG issues for Oak Street Health. This framework is based on that analysis, and identifies our priority issues, which are both relevant to our business and significant to our stakeholders.

  • Empowering health equity: We believe quality healthcare should be available to all, regardless of income or background. Thus, our value-based care model is designed to put quality care within reach for traditionally underserved neighborhoods

  • Investing in our communities: We strive to be a pillar of our community that serves the needs of all. We seek to uplift the neighborhoods surrounding our centers, from supporting local initiatives to revitalizing areas as we invest in our community clinics

  • Building a great place to work: We are committed to DE&I and passionate about creating an environment where teammates feel supported, grow their careers, and make a powerful impact, as our model is only possible with a strong team member base

  • Protecting our stakeholders: We strive to promote ethical behavior, responsible measures around data and privacy, and resilient business practices across our national enterprise

  • Providing sustainable care: We believe responsible environmental stewardship can improve health for patients, communities, and teammates. We strive to identify new efficiencies and make strategic investments that reduce our environmental impact

How Oak Street Health is delivering on health equity

The significant shortcomings of our healthcare system — poor outcomes, unhappy patients, high costs — are greatly exacerbated for older adults, especially moderate- to low-income adults who commonly face multiple chronic illnesses. They lack access to quality care, don’t get enough time with their doctors, deal with a disjointed experience and aren’t getting the individualized, comprehensive care they need and deserve.

Oak Street Health’s model was purpose-built to directly tackle these challenges and provide a level of care and patient experience that is unmatched by traditional healthcare providers. We are investing to bring that model to Medicare beneficiaries and dual eligible individuals across the country who deserve this type of care — and in doing so, reduce the health disparities that exist in our country.

Here at OSH, we are focused on providing exceptional care to the Medicare community. 98% of our patients are Medicare enrollees, with an average age of 68, and 42% are also Medicaid enrollees. Our patients’ health needs are complex, as 86% of patients have one or more chronic conditions and approximately 50% are identified as vulnerable for activities of daily living.

Our care goes to a diverse population, with over 50% of our patients identifying as African American, Hispanic/Latino, or Indigenous Americans and speaking over 50 languages. Our care goes to those in need, with average patient income <$17,000, and ~50% of our patients have a housing, food or isolation risk factor. Over 90% of our centers are in medically underserved census tracts and 100% of the counties we serve are designated mental health provider shortage areas.

  • >50%
    of patients identify as African American, Latino or Indigenous

  • 42%
    of patients are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid

  • 86%
    of patients have one or more chronic condition

  • 98%
    of patients are on Medicare

  • >50
    Languages patient speak

  • >90%
    of centers are in medically underserved census tracts

  • 100%
    of counties served are designated mental health provider shortage areas

  • ~50%
    of patients have a housing, food, or isolation risk factor

  • 68
    Average patient age

  • <$17,000
    Average patient income

All data points as of 12/31/2021

At Oak Street Health, the way we impact patients’ lives is simple, but powerful: through more equitable and higher quality care, we reduce hospital visits and provide an unmatched patient experience. To learn more please read our latest ESG presentation, found here