SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Incorporating and Measuring Health Equity in Inpatient Care

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This document summarizes a qualitative study on inpatient health equity from the perspective of hospitalists and physician trainees in the HOMERuN collaborative. Researchers conducted five simultaneous focus groups with 21 participants, followed by a larger debriefing, using a semi-structured guide and rapid qualitative analysis.<br /><br />Key findings show that hospital organizations often lack a cohesive strategy to address and measure health equity in inpatient care. Current efforts are frequently piecemeal, driven by individual passion rather than institutional support. Participants noted several barriers: limited access to health equity data, a focus on screening rather than outcome disparities, competing resource demands, and reliance on volunteerism without broader organizational backing.<br /><br />The study also found wide variation in how health equity is defined and practiced. Hospitalists described uncertainty about what issues fall within the inpatient scope versus broader social or community-level drivers of inequity. Priorities and resources are usually set by health systems, with relatively little input from patients or community partners.<br /><br />Despite these challenges, participants identified opportunities for progress. These include collecting valid and reliable sociodemographic and social driver data, using electronic health record tools and dashboards to make data actionable, embedding equity into quality improvement, advocating for multi-level institutional support, and engaging in public policy efforts at community, state, and national levels.<br /><br />Overall, the study concludes that while many organizational opportunities exist, hospitals need clearer strategy, better data, stronger support, and more consistent definitions of inpatient health equity to move from isolated efforts to sustained action.

Asset Subtitle

Amelita Woodruff

Meta Tag

Author List Amelita Woodruff, Amit Kaushal, Archna Eniasivam, Areeba Kara, Ashley Jenkins, Elizabeth Le, Jennifer K. Readlynn, Marisha Burden

Category Research

Concept Health Equity

Concept Data Gap

Concept Data Stratification

Concept Implementation Barriers

Concept Inpatient Setting

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization Johns Hopkins Hospital

Presenting Author Amelita Woodruff

Track Other

Keywords

health equity

inpatient care

hospitalists

physician trainees

qualitative study

focus groups

health disparities

electronic health records

quality improvement

health systems

Health Equity

Data Gap

Data Stratification

Implementation Barriers

Inpatient Setting