Guide provides new approach to collecting data to reduce disparities

AHA News writes: A new guide from the Equity of Care initiative and AHA’s Hospitals in Pursuit of Excellence provides a four-step approach to collecting patient Race, Ethnicity And Language data to reduce disparities in care. “By adopting a four-step approach – defining the right data categories, developing a methodology for collection, training staff, and assigning accountability/monitoring progress – hospitals and care systems will have a strong REAL data set for analysis,” the guide states. “With this data, hospitals and care systems can stratify outcomes measures to understand where disparities exist, prioritize where to focus time and resources and develop patient-centered interventions.” Launched in 2011, the Equity of Care initiative seeks to end health care disparities by increasing the collection and use of REAL data, cultural competency training and diversity in health care governance and leadership. Partners in the effort include the AHA, Association of American Medical Colleges, American College of Healthcare Executives, Catholic Health Association of the United States, and America’s Essential Hospitals.