Hospitals & Health Equity: What role can hospital rankings play in promoting health equity?

The Health Disparities Podcast

Hospitals and health systems can play a major role in addressing healthcare disparities in our nation. In our latest episode – part of our hospitals and health equity series – we zero in on hospital rankings and how the metrics that are used can compel health systems to take much-needed action on health equity.

“If hospitals were to focus more on health equity, they would be fulfilling both a moral responsibility as well as a legal responsibility,” says Tavia Binger, a health data analyst at U.S. News and World Report. “Nonprofit hospitals are actually required to spend portions of their revenue on community benefit activities – like providing care that is free or at a reduced cost for patients who can't afford to pay – in exchange for their tax exempt status.”

In addition to the latest U.S. News Best Hospitals rankings, published on July 16, U.S. News has also introduced health equity measures and has released a list of hospitals excelling in health equity by “providing vulnerable populations with substantial access to high-quality care,” Binger says.

Health Disparities podcast host Dr. Mary O’Connor speaks with Binger about how U.S. News and World Report is working to promote health equity. They also discuss how healthcare consumers can use hospital rankings to understand whether the hospitals in their communities are doing their part to provide care that is both high-quality and equitable.

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