Missed Policy Opportunities to Advance Health Equity by Recording Demographic Data in Electronic Health Records

Author(s)

Megan Daugherty Douglas, Morehouse School of Medicine
Daniel Dawes, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Kisha B. Holden, Morehouse School of Medicine
Dominic Mack, Morehouse School of Medicine

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

American Journal of Public Health

ISSN

1541-0048

Publication Date

2015

Abstract/Excerpt

The science of eliminating health disparities is complex and dependent on demographic data. The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) encourages the adoption of electronic health records and requires basic demographic data collection; however, current data generated are insufficient to address known health disparities in vulnerable populations, including individuals from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, with disabilities, and with diverse sexual identities.

We conducted an administrative history of HITECH and identified gaps between the policy objective and required measure. We identified 20 opportunities for change and 5 changes, 2 of which required the collection of less data.

Until health care demographic data collection requirements are consistent with public health requirements, the national goal of eliminating health disparities cannot be realized.

DOI

10.2105%2FAJPH.2014.302384

Volume

105

Issue

3

First Page

380

Last Page

388

NSUWorks Citation

Douglas, Megan Daugherty; Dawes, Daniel; Holden, Kisha B.; and Mack, Dominic, "Missed Policy Opportunities to Advance Health Equity by Recording Demographic Data in Electronic Health Records" (2015). HCBE Faculty Articles. 1047.
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/hcbe_facarticles/1047