Collecting Race, Ethnicity and Language Information is More Than Just a Requirement
To some, it may feel awkward to ask patients to report their race, ethnicity or language, but having accurate information can provide a wealth of information for hospitals and delivery systems. Beyond state and federal requirements to collect this data, the information can be used to help inform Community Health Needs Assessments, identify emerging trends in the community and provide valuable information to provide patient centered care. When used to stratify outcomes, this information can help hospitals identify and respond to potential disparities. But, how do hospitals ensure the data being collected is accurate?
The Greater Cincinnati Health Council, in collaboration with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, created this 11 page best practice guide to help hospitals standardize data collection. The guide includes recommendations for what data to collect, data collection methods, ensuring data integrity and quality, and staff training.
