Communities served by essential hospitals experience a disproportionate prevalence of transportation barriers. This challenge creates an opportunity for essential hospitals, in conjunction with state policy levers, to help mitigate such barriers.

Applications are open for two projects of particular interest to essential hospitals: the Systems for Action research program and the Culture of Health Prize.

The year-long intensive program, offered by the Center for Community Investment, trains rising executives in the leadership skills needed to help disadvantaged communities.

The fellowship, based at Harvard University, is designed to prepare physician-leaders to improve health system capacity and promote policies and practices to improve access to care for minority, disadvantaged, and vulnerable populations.

The study finds urban, nonprofit hospitals recognize the role of health disparities in outcomes, but could use greater incentives to make improvements.

The campaign focuses on improving health equity, while acknowledging that environment and social factors play a large role in determining health outcomes.

Researchers found significant health disparities between gay men, bisexual men, and bisexual women, compared with men and women who identified as heterosexual.

The agency examined existing research on vulnerable populations to provide strategies for reducing health disparities.

Updated: Annals of Surgery article covering the impact of patient socioeconomic status on operative mortality.

The Essential Hospitals Institute has compiled a compendium of tools that might be useful to essential providers as they pursue health equity goals.