Referrals to a Novel Health Care Equity Consult Service.

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Health Equity Studies
• Clinical Operations

Background:

• The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines health equity as fair and just opportunities for everyone to achieve optimal health.
• Achieving health equity requires addressing inequities, social/economic obstacles, and preventable health differences.
• Operational models for clinical teams to navigate health equity factors are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the Healthcare Equity Consult Service (HECS) model and its application in an academic medical center.
• To assess the impact of HECS on addressing contextual and interpersonal factors influencing patient care.
• To evaluate HECS's role in promoting health equity within acute care settings.

Main Methods:

• Conducted HECS consults across 3 hospitals from August 2022 to March 2024.
• Utilized a structured, real-time assessment process including medical record review, patient/family interviews, and care team briefings.
• Facilitated interventions and provided recommendations to mitigate systemic barriers, communication issues, and perceived bias.

Main Results:

• HECS addressed concerns related to contextual factors, interpersonal dynamics, and potential bias during hospitalizations.
• Illustrative cases highlighted how these factors shaped care processes, patient/family engagement, and trust.
• Interventions involved direct engagement and real-time coaching for clinical teams, leading to policy and process refinements.

Conclusions:

• The HECS model provides a viable strategy for integrating equity-centered interventions into acute care.
• Multidisciplinary expertise within HECS addressed patient experiences and societal barriers, focusing on equitable solutions.
• HECS recommendations were integrated into treatment plans and informed institutional policy and practice improvements.