Minority and low-income patients are more likely to use "safety net" hospitals—primarily public hospitals and major teaching hospitals—than white and more affluent patients. Safety net hospital executives assert that because their staff have expertise in caring for these patients, they are able to provide them higher-quality care than other hospitals. For this project, researchers will use inpatient discharge data for 15 states to determine which hospitals provide the best care to minority and low-income patients, and which characteristics and best practices are associated with high-performing hospitals serving these populations. Findings will inform the development of policy options for improving hospital care in underserved communities.
