SCHA Hospital Readmission Disparity Report
In alignment with the AHA #123forEquity Pledge and the South Carolina Call to Action for Health Equity, SCHA is providing all acute-care hospitals with a report of readmissions stratified by race, the racial disparity gap, and the impact of the disparity gap in the overall readmission rate of the hospital.Please note we have made slight methodological changes from the previous version to better reflect CMS methodology.
Below is an “example hospital” to help you interpret your report. Contact Aunyika Moonan, PhD if you have questions.
Call to Action for Health Equity in South Carolina
In alignment with the American Hospital Association #123forEquity Pledge
The South Carolina Hospital Association, The Alliance for a Healthier South Carolina, AnMed Health, Bon Secours St. Francis, Greenville Health System, MUSC, Tidelands Health and 27 other partners launched in June of 2015 the Call to Action for Health Equity in South Carolina which focuses on changing the way organizations see their role in helping diverse populations make healthy choices, access health and social services, and enjoy healthier physical and social environments.
By joining the South Carolina Call to Action for Health Equity, South Carolina hospitals will be automatically enrolled in the American Hospital Association #123 for Equity Pledge. Learn more about the call to action at HealthierSC.org.
If you are ready to start decreasing health disparities in South Carolina, please sign the poster at SCHA Annual Meeting to Join the Call to Action!
AHA recommends the following 9-month timeline for Hospitals- By the end of month 1: Choose a quality measure to stratify by race, ethnicity or language preference or other sociodemographic variables (such as income, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation and gender, or other) that are important to your community's health. Quality measures to stratify could include readmissions or other core measures. (In January 2016, SCHA produced comparative hospital-specific readmissions reports stratified by race for all acute care hospitals in the state)
- By the end of month 3: Determine if a health care disparity exists, and if so, implement a plan to address this gap. (The abovementioned reports include an estimation of the hospital-specific racial disparity and its impact on overall readmission rates in the hospital)
- By the end of month 6: Provide cultural competency training for all staff or finalize a plan to ensure your staff receives cultural competency training.
- By the end of month 9: Have a dialogue with your board and leadership team on how you reflect the community you serve, and what actions can be taken by 2016 to address any gaps if board and leadership are not reflective of the communities you serve.
In January, each acute-care hospital will receive a readmissions report with information to meet steps 1 and 2 of the AHA recommended timeline. Attached is an updated version of the January report.
The SCHA Quality and Patient Safety team andThe Health Equity Team of the Alliance for a Healthier South Carolina will convene and provides educational support to all hospitals and South Carolina organizations interested in helping us find the best ways to decrease health inequities in the state. For additional information regarding The Alliance contactLindsey Perret and for your readmissions disparity plan contact Laura Cole .