Health equity advocates are buzzing over today’s announcement by national patient safety giant The Leapfrog Group highlighting the results of its recent study of 10 million patient records. The research found that Black and Hispanic patients face a higher risk of adverse safety events compared to white patients, even at the safest hospitals.
The study examined the association between hospital safety grades and disparities in adverse events among different racial and ethnic groups and insurance types. Black patients had higher rates of sepsis, blood clots, and respiratory failure after surgery compared to white patients.
Hispanic patients also exhibited a higher risk of sepsis and respiratory failure. Patients covered by Medicare or Medicaid experienced more adverse events than those with private insurance.
The study suggests that the disparities are driven by systemic issues affecting the quality of care. The research report’s authors emphasize the need for transparency, data collection, and targeted interventions to address these disparities.
Additional information about the study can be found here.
