At Waterloo Regional Health Network (WRHN), we are committed to removing barriers to healthcare. We aim to create spaces that are safe, welcoming, and include everyone.
What does this look like? Meaningful action. We are making changes and trying new ways of doing things. We are working with community partners to co-create safer healthcare spaces, services, and experiences that recognize and celebrate what makes us unique. We want every patient, visitor, partner, and team member to feel valued and supported in every interaction at WRHN.
Culturally Inclusive Care
At WRHN, we provide healthcare that is safe, respectful, and responsive to the wide range of communities we serve. We stand firmly against racism and discrimination of any kind. Our team works to create welcoming spaces and programs for people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions, ethnicities, races, and abilities.
Creating care that includes everyone is not about finding a one-size-fits-all solution or treating everyone the same. Instead, we aim to deliver health services in ways that meet the unique needs of each person and community. Education and partnerships are two ways we are working towards these goals.
Education & Continuous Learning
Team members take part in ongoing education at WRHN. It helps them care better for the different communities we serve. Some topics they learn about include:
- the importance of EDI and allyship in healthcare
- anti-Black racism
- inclusion and belonging for 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals
- caring for Indigenous older adults
- caring for transgender and gender diverse patients
- caring for patients with intellectual disabilities
Continuous learning is a part of our culture. We help teams get the knowledge and skills to provide the best possible care and create safer, more welcoming experiences.
Partnerships
Building trusted partnerships is an important part of creating care that supports everyone. Partners share their knowledge, experiences, and feedback to help us better understand the needs and challenges of different groups and communities. Some partners who have helped us with this work so far include:
- community groups
- employee resource groups (ERGs), including the Black Health Professionals Collective, Pride ERG, and Indigenous Employee Circle
- patient and family advisory groups
- the Indigenous Advisory Council (IAC)
- the Patient and Family Partners Network
- the KW4 Ontario Health Team (OHT)
- Spectrum
Together, we continue to make changes based on communities’ needs and experiences. We are committed to learning, improving, and taking action based on the insights shared by the partners we work with.
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Working Towards Health Equity
At WRHN, we know that not everyone has the same chance to be healthy. Some people and groups experience unfair differences in their health, treatment, and outcomes that could be avoided. These are called health disparities.
WRHN is committed to changing this. We are taking action to reduce discrimination, racism, and other barriers — both at and across the health system. Some of our steps towards health equity include:
- actively setting aside time, resources, and people to do this work
- providing ongoing learning opportunities for team members
- hiring teams that include different kinds of people and reflect local communities
- creating a healthy environment for teams
- questioning the ways we do things and taking steps to improve
- engaging with communities
- collecting meaningful data
All these steps help us learn about barriers and build solutions to meet the needs of the communities and people we serve. We are committed to working with others as equal partners and building strong, respectful two-way relationships.
Health Equity Survey
In partnership with Ontario Health, WRHN helps foster safer, more inclusive spaces with its health equity survey. This survey helps us understand the gaps and barriers people face to getting healthcare in the communities we serve. We plan to build new services and supports, based on survey responses, so everyone can more easily get the care they need.
Services & Supports
When you come to WRHN, we are here to support you. Many services and projects are available for patients, families, and visitors as part of our plan to improve care and health equity:
Accessibility
Everyone should feel welcome and supported when they come for care. That is why WRHN works to make its programs and services accessible to all.
Spiritual Care
Spiritual care providers support people of all faiths, cultures, and backgrounds. Our team can offer emotional or spiritual support, religious services, and care for the entire person, not just your physical needs. They can also connect you with spiritual resources and faith communities outside of WRHN.
Inclusive Patient Records
WRHN is working to become a safe, inclusive place for all. If you come for care, your team will include your correct name and pronouns on your health record if they are different from the ones on your Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) or insurance card. We want everyone who visits us to feel welcome and respected.
Translation & Interpretation Services
Clear communication is important for safe, high-quality care. At WRHN, we offer care in the language you choose.
On March 31, 2026, WRHN started using Lingotec for interpretation services. They offer support in more than 300 languages and dialects. You can choose to get services on the phone or through a video call. Learn more about these services.
We also use a tool called Weglot to translate our website into the 10 languages that are most spoken in our region. Offering our website in many languages helps more people find and understand important health information. Patients and families can also view and print helpful resources in the language of their choice.
These are just two ways we are working to make care fairer and more inclusive.
Community Supports
WRHN is proud to be a part of the KW4 Ontario Health Team (OHT). This is a group of 42 member organizations and healthcare providers that work together to share resources and better coordinate local services and healthcare.
Together with patients, families, and communities, the KW4 OHT is co-designing new projects. Their goal is to improve health equity and bridge gaps in care. These projects include the Community Advisory Committee (CAC), the Newcomer App, and the Neighbourhood Integrated Care Team (NICT). Their work aims to make healthcare patient-centred, more connected, and easier to access for all 400,000 residents of Kitchener, Waterloo, Wellesley, Wilmot, and Woolwich.