A statewide study in Michigan has uncovered significant variations in how emergency departments record patients’ race and ethnicity, potentially impacting efforts to address health care disparities. The research, conducted by a team from the University of Michigan, found that nearly 1 in 10 patients who visited multiple emergency departments within a year were categorized differently in terms of race or ethnicity across visits.
The study, published in JAMA Network Open, analyzed data from over 5 million emergency department visits made by 2.5 million patients across Michigan in 2020. It revealed that 9.3% of patients who made multiple visits were assigned different racial or ethnic categories. Hispanic patients experienced the highest rate of inconsistent categorization at 65%.
Researchers found that smaller, rural hospitals were more likely to have inconsistencies in their data. The study also highlighted the underrepresentation of certain groups, such as Arab Americans, in current race and ethnicity categories.
The research underscores the critical role of reliable data in identifying and addressing health care disparities among different racial and ethnic groups. As health systems work towards equity, ensuring accurate and consistent patient information will be crucial for developing targeted interventions and policies.
See “Same Patient. Different Visit. Different Race and Ethnicity?” (March 30, 2024)
