Health Equity
Health equity is a critical topic for essential hospitals and health systems: those that disproportionately care for low-income and marginalized patients. As an association, we are dedicated to acknowledging and addressing the deeply entrenched and historical racism that plays a critical role in determining the health and well-being of our members’ communities.
Through their work with underserved populations, essential hospitals are uniquely focused on the needs and challenges of patient populations facing the greatest disparities and barriers to receiving quality care, including low-income populations, people of color, and other marginalized groups. The barriers these patients face often are compounded by other social issues, such as food, transportation, or housing insecurity. This commitment to promote equity and eliminate disparities puts essential hospitals in a unique position within the health care delivery system. The association supports our members in identifying key barriers and strategies to advancing equity in health care quality.
Questions
Contact us at info@essentialhospitals.org or 202.585.0100.
HHS to Create Action Alliance to Advance Patient Safety
Nov. 18, 2022 ||At a Nov. 14 listening session, HHS leaders announced plans to launch in 2023 a learning community focused on patient and health care worker safety.
view more »CDC Releases Health Equity, Antibiotic Resistance Fact Sheet
March 28, 2022 ||The fact sheet highlights CDC goals of expanding collection of disparities and equity data; supporting infection control and patient safety efforts; addressing educational needs that impact diverse health care workers’ ability to protect themselves and their patients from infections; and more.
view more »CDC Webinar: Cultural Competence in Preparedness Planning
April 19, 2019 ||Learn why cultural competency matters during emergencies, explore the potential consequences of being culturally incompetent, and gain resources to help build understanding.
view more »AHRQ State Snapshots Show Improvements in Person-Centered Care
Oct. 1, 2018 ||Health care providers can use this interactive tool to compare performance among states, identify areas for improvement, and find models for best practices.
view more »CMS Hosts Forum on Opioid Epidemic in Minority Communities
April 17, 2018 ||The event, for National Minority Health Month, will discuss how the opioid crisis affects minority communities and how organizations partner to combat the crisis and improve behavioral health.
view more »Health Enterprise Zone Targets Philadelphia Neighborhood
April 6, 2018 ||Einstein Medical Center and Temple University Health System zero in on social determinants of health through the North Philadelphia Health Enterprise Zone.
view more »NQF Panel Publishes Health Equity Road Map
Oct. 4, 2017 ||The new road map recommends policies and practices providers can adopt to promote health equity and eliminate disparities.
view more »AHRQ Report Shows Quality Improvements, but Disparities Persist
Aug. 22, 2017 ||The report, mandated by Congress and released by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, found continued gaps in access to care and other health disparities.
view more »NQF Releases Quality Measure Final Recommendations
March 27, 2017 ||Of particular note, NQF’s Measure Applications Partnership acknowledged the need for more research to understand the role of socioeconomic status in health.
view more »IHI Research Offers Ways To Improve Health Equity
Aug. 19, 2016 ||The paper includes a framework to achieve health equity, guidance for measuring health equity, and a self-assessment tool for health care organizations.
view more »Member Wins Federal Grant for Health Equity Research
July 29, 2016 ||MUSC will launch a minority men’s health center to interpret, apply determinants of disease risks and outcomes to precision medicine strategies.
view more »Report IDs Social Risk Factor Criteria for Medicare Payments
July 20, 2016 ||The report aims to identify social risk factors that affect beneficiaries’ health outcomes and methods to account for these factors in payment programs.
view more »CDC Webinars Focus on Social Determinants of Health
June 1, 2016 ||CDC will host two webinars this month to discuss a program to educate health care professionals about the social factors that affect overall health.
view more »Nondiscrimination, Language Assistance Rule Final
May 17, 2016 ||The rule carries out Affordable Care Act protections for individuals in federally funded health programs and sets new requirements for supporting people with limited English proficiency.
view more »NIH Launches Surgical Disparities Research Program
April 18, 2016 ||The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities program aims to improve disparities in surgical care and outcomes among disadvantaged populations.
view more »Report Identifies Best Practices for Hospital Quality
April 13, 2016 ||Hospitals that perform well in quality programs—despite serving high levels of vulnerable patients—invest in health equity, data, collaborative partnerships, patient engagement, and more.
view more »New CMS Tool Maps Medicare Disparities
March 23, 2016 ||Tool, developed by association member University of Chicago, shows geographic disparities in health outcomes, health care use, and health care spending.
view more »AHRQ Chartbook Shows Some Progress on Disparities
March 22, 2016 ||Latest Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) patient safety data show gaps in care for racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups have become less pronounced over time.
view more »Association Forum Recommends Steps to Reduce Disparities
Feb. 24, 2016 ||Hospitals should stratify data and reduce language barriers to improve equity, thought leaders say in new report.
view more »UNM Health, Law Launch Medicolegal Initiative
Feb. 16, 2016 ||$2.6 million grant from W.K. Kellogg Foundation will support work to provide legal services to children and families living under the poverty line to achieve better health and justice outcomes.
view more »New CMS Guide Addresses Readmissions Disparities
Feb. 2, 2016 ||The guide focuses on reducing readmissions for racial and ethnic minority groups and is part of the CMS Equity Plan for Improving Quality in Medicare.
view more »Webcast: Population Health and Health Equity
Jan. 29, 2016 ||National Academies of Sciences Feb. 4 round table in Washington, DC, will explore population health in the context of racial and ethnic disparities and health equity.
view more »Health Literacy Tool Could Improve Outcomes, Reduce Disparities
Jan. 21, 2015 ||VCU Medical Center’s cancer health literacy tool quickly evaluates patients’ knowledge of the disease and treatment
view more »Natividad Medical Center Breaks Down Indigenous Language Barriers
April 10, 2014 ||A Natividad Medical Center program ensures patients who speak indigenous languages receive high-quality care
view more »NQF Proposes Sociodemographic Risk Adjustment to Address Care Disparities
March 27, 2014 ||NQF proposes socioeconomic adjustment for measures used in pay-for-performance, other accountability applications
view more »Pioneering Policy and Practice for LGBT Care
Dec. 2, 2013 ||UCSF’s LGBT Resource Center is a national leader in increasing awareness of LGBT issues
view more »Disparities Leadership Inspires LGBT Collaborative, Community
Nov. 25, 2013 ||UNM Hospitals’ LGBT Collaborative changes policies, training, and perspective
view more »Changing Care for Changing Needs: A History of HIV Care for LGBT
Nov. 25, 2013 ||(UMC) of Southern Nevada brought LGBT patients dedicated HIV care in the 1980s
view more »Behavioral Health Care: Filling an Unmet LGBT Need
Nov. 25, 2013 ||Through expert care and specialized services, Jackson Behavioral Health Hospital is reducing care disparities
view more »PRIDE Clinic Creates Primary Care Home for LGBT Population
Oct. 31, 2013 ||MetroHealth’s clinic provides primary care that respects the unique needs of LGBT patients
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