Journal of Healthcare Management - November/December 2013 - (Page 392)

E q U I T y O F C A R E REAL Data Collection Essential for Care of Vulnerable Populations Bruce Siegel, MD, president/CEO, America's Essential Hospitals, Washington, D.C. W ith minorities projected to constitute a majority of the U.S. population by 2043 (Census Bureau, 2012)-and considering that the disparities in healthcare access and quality they face are well documented (CDC, 2011)-it's clear that improving care for this population will depend on understanding who they are and where gaps exist. The need to reduce disparities in care has become particularly pressing with the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) focus on value-based care and quality improvement and a growing recognition that a reformed, high-performing healthcare system must make eliminating disparities a fundamental goal. We can achieve this goal by providing the best care possible to society's most vulnerable. Low-income and other disadvantaged patients are a population that members of America's Essential Hospitals (formerly the National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems) know well and a key reason we have joined forces with our allies in the Equity of Care initiative. Essential hospitals-those that serve a safety net role in their communities-are uniquely positioned to help reduce healthcare disparities, as more than half our patients are racial and ethnic minorities and a majority are uninsured or qualify for Medicaid. Although our members represent just 2% of U.S. hospitals, they deliver nearly 20% of all uncompensated care (NAPH, 2012). So, collecting reliable race, ethnicity, and language (REAL) data-and viewing it as an essential component of quality improvement-has become a priority for us and our hospitals, as it should be for all healthcare providers. W H Y r E a l d ata i S i M P o rta N t It seems self-evident, but this tenet is often overlooked: To provide the best quality of care to your patient population, you need to know who your patients are. REAL data helps you understand your patients' varying needs and view treatments and outcomes through the lens of their rich ethnic and racial diversity. It drives better care and a better patient experience. It enhances prevention-risk of disease varies by ethnicity and race, making this information as important to the future as it is to the present. It supports culturally competent care that respects each patient's social and cultural background and aids communication to improve patient compliance and outcomes. While improving patient care and the patient experience is the primary reason for collecting REAL data, regulatory and other compliance issues also come into play- meeting federal requirements for meaningful use of health information technology, for 392

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Journal of Healthcare Management - November/December 2013

Journal of Healthcare Management - November/December 2013
Interview With John W. Bluford III, FACHE, President and Chief Executive Officer, Truman Medical Centers
REAL Data Collection Essential for Care of Vulnerable Populations
Fewer, but Tighter, Payer Relationships Expected to Underpin Integrated Health System Strategies in the Future
Healthcare Employers’ Policies on Nurse Education
Reducing Preventable Emergency Department Utilization and Costs by Using Community Health Workers as Patient Navigators
Engaging Primary Care Physicians in Quality Improvement: Lessons From a Payer–Provider Partnership
Implementing High-Performance Work Practices in Healthcare Organizations: Qualitative and Conceptual Evidence

Journal of Healthcare Management - November/December 2013