Researchers conducted an observational study of patients discharged from an academic hospital from 2005 to 2009 to determine whether efforts to standardize patient demographic information improved healthcare disparities.
While the overall proportion of patients with an “unknown race” decreased from 2005 to 2009, Hispanic/Latino patients were less likely to specify their race and more likely to designate themselves as “multiracial: other combination.” The researchers concluded current federal race categories may be inadequate, which could lead to failures in closing gaps in healthcare disparities.
Related Articles on Population Health:
A Roadmap for Population Health Management: 6 Stages in a New Era of Healthcare
American College of Physicians Paper Calls for Improvements to Public Health
AHRQ Releases 2011 National Healthcare Quality, Disparities Report
