SGI Initiative

HME’s Social Commitment applies internally and externally and guides our interactions with our employees and our greater community.

Internally, HME is committed to responsible, respectful hiring and retention policies. Additionally, with a valued focus on diversity and inclusion, we actively look to incorporate differing life experiences and beliefs in an effort to serve our varied clientele better.

From this policy, HME has grown a diversified team of professionals, including a Senior Leadership Team that is 62.5% female and a management team that is 55% female. In addition, our entire team of employees includes 55% who are visible minorities, and we have twenty-two different languages spoken by our team members allowing us to serve many of our clients in their native tongue.

Externally, HME is committed to social causes that better the communities that we live, work, and play in. From our staff volunteering their time with amazing community organizations like Variety – the Children’s Charity, to ongoing financial donations to various charitable causes such as Canucks’ Place, Ronald McDonald House, PADs, the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre, First Nations Child, and Family Caring Society of Canada, Vancouver Aboriginal Child and Family Services Society and many others. HME has also developed the ‘HME Gives Back’ Grant, awarded monthly by a committee of our employees to deserving recipients to assist in funding essential medical equipment they otherwise would not be able to afford.

Furthermore, HME is committed to supporting other locally owned businesses by working closely with Canadian and B.C.-owned suppliers whenever possible. By creating and supporting local, enduring jobs in our communities, we can help to build strong, resilient neighborhoods for all.

HME Home Health is committed to protecting the environment through thoughtful evaluation and consistent impact mitigation of our organization's environmental footprint. We are de-carbonizing all aspects of our company and working towards decoupling our business growth from our emissions, and by 2030, HME intends to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions.

Here is how HME is Going Green:

Going Green through Technology

HME is leveraging the use of technology to assist in going Green. Through our industry-first utilization of custom QR Codes to assist end-users with Troubleshooting which minimizes paper-based user manuals and unnecessary in-person follow-up visits, thereby reducing travel and carbon emissions. HME utilizes IT systems, including route planning software, to minimize travel and emissions through efficient planning and idling monitoring. All on-the-road team members are provided with software on electronic devices that allow them to submit documents, orders, and follow-ups efficiently without using unnecessary paper.

Paperless Practice

By the end of 2024, all seven of HME's Locations will be Paperless. By transitioning to secure electronic systems with mobile integration for our on-the-road teams, HME is minimizing waste production. Furthermore, by going paperless, HME is streamlining our efficiencies, reducing the need for harvesting trees and conserving the energy used in converting those trees into paper and the transporting of paper products. Finally, HME encourages re-using, recycling, and environmentally-friendly disposal of other waste that cannot be avoided responsibly.

LED-Certified

All seven HME locations are LED-Certified with energy-efficient lighting, heating, and appliances. This ongoing commitment to reducing energy consumption across all areas of our business (office heating/cooling, fossil fuel consumption) supports our Green initiative. These initiatives include set office temperatures that are remotely monitored, efficient route planning to minimize gasoline emissions, and an ongoing transition to electric vehicles.

De-Carbonizing our Supply Chain

HME is committed to using environmentally-sound suppliers for all equipment and company purchases. This practice includes annual audits of our suppliers to ensure HME's standards are maintained. HME works with our suppliers to encourage their commitment to sound environmental practices, including purchasing environmentally responsible products such as recycled or refurbished materials, reduced energy and water consumption, and the product's ability to be recycled at the end of their useful life.

HME is committed to working closely with our First Nations Communities, on whose traditional land we have the honor of operating our business. Our commitment is three-fold based on the following principles:

1. Respect
2. Advocacy
3. Reconciliation

Respect

Key to our commitment to First Nations Communities is respect. While working on First Nations Land, we operate our business through an Indigenous-Led approach. We respect the sovereignty of the First Nations Governments and actively take direction from First Nations Communities regarding the support and equipment their community members may require. In addition, we respect the traditions and culture of the First Nations communities. Therefore, we aim to provide culturally sensitive care through the provision of essential medical equipment for all community members.

Advocacy

We will work to advocate alongside our First Nations partners to government funding agencies to ensure that First Nation’s community members receive the most appropriate medical equipment to ensure that all Indigenous communities have better health outcomes.

Reconciliation

HME is committed to reconciliation with First Nations Communities through the education of our staff on the historical injustices that many Indigenous persons faced. All HME staff complete cultural-sensitive care training through the certified completion of the Aboriginal Health: For the Next Seven Generations for the Children program.