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[PD-1] Improving Healthcare Quality for Minority Patients: Workshop Proceedings

Helen Wu, MS, The National Quality Forum, Washington, DC

The National Quality Forum, 601 Thirteenth St. NW, Suite 500N, Washington, DC 2005

Background: Over the past two decades, the quality of U.S. healthcare has come under increasing scrutiny. Substantial problems of overuse, underuse, and misuse of medical care have been found. In addition to the socioeconomic obstacles that frequently hinder minority patients' access to care, research also consistently reveals the disturbing finding that race and ethnicity are independently associated with poorer quality healthcare and worse health outcomes.

Methods: To explore how measurement and reporting strategies can be used to improve healthcare quality for minority patients, the National Quality Forum held a workshop in June 2001 and convened a Workgroup of experts from minority consumer and community-based groups; research institutions; the provider community; and policymaking and government agencies. The Workgroup primarily focused on three questions: 1) can existing, commonly used healthcare quality measures appropriately address the needs of minority patients, or 2) are new measures needed to more accurately evaluate minority healthcare quality, and 3) what unique challenges arise in reporting healthcare quality information to minority consumers?

Recommendations: The Workgroup concluded that better measurement and reporting are essential and recommended ten priority actions that should be taken to improve healthcare quality for minority patients. Since most of the healthcare quality-related problems faced by minority patients also occur in non-minority patients, the Workgroup recommendations have implications for all who are interested in achieving better healthcare quality. These strategies should become priorities for policymakers, regulators, researchers, healthcare delivery organizations, and all other groups involved in healthcare quality measurement and reporting.
Date: July 10-12, 2002

Location: Hilton Hotel & Towers, Washington, DC

Sponsor: U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health / Office of Public Health and Science