Photo Credit: Stocksy / Leah Flores
It’s not unusual for people to whisper about “good” and “bad” hospitals near their homes. Across the United States, most folks have a vague sense of which hospitals to avoid, but the stakes are often higher for Black people. It’s well-documented that Black people in the U.S. have worse health outcomes: pregnant people, for instance, are three to four times more likely to die from complications related to childbirth than white counterparts, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Harrowing statistics and horror stories can make choosing a hospital downright scary, but it’s natural to assume the best hospital can help ensure that you get quality care.
As it turns out, a recent study by the Urban Institute analyzed the 2017 discharge data from 2,347 hospitals across 26 states and found disturbing trends. “Black patients systematically experience higher rates of adverse safety events, particularly among injuries or illnesses suffered during or after surgical procedures, relative to white patients treated at the same hospital,” says Anuj Gangopadhyaya, PhD, the study’s lead researcher. This means, in the same exact hospital, Black patients are at greater risk of harm.
Read the full story at Well and Good | Patient Safey.
