Integrating equity indicators for hospital reporting metrics

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Health Equity Studies
• Health System Performance Measurement

Background:

• Healthcare systems worldwide grapple with deeply entrenched disparities in service delivery and design.
• Existing methods for measuring health inequity lack a universally accepted, consistently applied approach.
• Addressing these inequities is crucial for improving health outcomes across diverse socioeconomic groups.

Purpose of the Study:

• To apply the model-based Relative Index of Inequality (RII) to quantify healthcare inequities.
• To assess disparities in planned and outpatient services within a major Canadian health system.
• To identify specific services with the most significant equity gaps.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the model-based Relative Index of Inequality (RII) as the primary measure of socioeconomic inequity.
• Analyzed data from Trillium Health Partners, a large Canadian health system.
• Examined disparities across planned and outpatient healthcare service utilization.

Main Results:

• Individuals with the lowest socioeconomic status (SES) accessed planned services at 2.4 times lower rates than highest-SES individuals.
• Lowest-SES individuals accessed outpatient services at 2.5 times lower rates compared to highest-SES individuals.
• Breast cancer screening showed the largest disparity, with lowest-SES patients being 5.4 times less likely to use the service.

Conclusions:

• Consistent measurement and monitoring of health inequities are essential for developing targeted interventions.
• The Relative Index of Inequality (RII) provides a valuable metric for assessing socioeconomic disparities in healthcare access.
• The findings advocate for the widespread integration of this measurement approach into routine health system reporting to drive equity improvements.