STANFORD HEALTH CARE

1. Top 10 Disparities

2. Equity Plan

Stanford Health Care (SHC) is guided by our mission to heal humanity through science and compassion. We are committed to person-centered, equitable care that improves access, quality, safety, patient experience, and clinical outcomes.
SHC reviewed the top 10 disparities identified using the HCAI Hospital Equity Measures methodology and developed a comprehensive plan to address variation in outcomes and patient experience. As indicated in Table 1, the top disparities include six related to 30-day all-cause unplanned readmissions and four related to mortality.
(i) Measure and Stratification Groups: Variation was observed in readmissions and mortality when stratified as required by HCAI requirements for vulnerable populations. Please refer to Table 1.
(ii) Reference Group: Comparisons according to the stratified groups in the HCAI methodology can be found for each disparity in Table 1.
(iii) Rate Ratio (RR): The table highlights the differences in risk of the event between the disparity group and the reference group. This is expressed as the Rate Ratio. Please see Table 1 for the RR of each disparity group identified.
(iv) Actions, Population Impact, Objectives, and Timeframes:
SHC utilizes multidisciplinary management guidance teams (MGTs) to bring together clinical and operational leaders for clinical improvement in key areas, such as mortality, readmissions, length of stay, hospital-acquired conditions and infections, and access to care. As part of our clinical improvement structure, SHC established a Health Equity MGT that prioritizes quality improvement for actionable disparities in quality, safety, patient experience, and clinical outcomes. Stanford Medicine collaboratively developed a Health Equity Measurement Framework (HEMF) with internal and external partners to standardize data collection, stratification, analysis, and visualization. The framework enables identification of disparities, reduction in avoidable variation, and sustained improvements across populations. SHC will continue to apply the HEMF in fiscal year (FY) 2026.
Data Collection: We Ask Because We Care is a Stanford Medicine-wide initiative designed to improve the precision and completeness of patient-reported demographic data and educate patients, providers, and staff on why these questions matter. SHC will continue to leverage this initiative to better understand our patients' unique contexts that may impact their care experience and outcomes.
Readmissions: SHC focuses on reducing unplanned readmissions through a multidisciplinary, coordinated clinical improvement structure. In FY 2026, the HEMF will be applied across all patient populations to assess demographic patterns in readmissions, identify actionable variations in care, and develop interventions. For example, the Appointment Before Discharge program increases the number of hospitalized patients with timely internal and external follow-up appointments prior to discharge, supporting safe transition to home.
Mortality: SHC's measurable objective is to achieve a lower mortality rate compared to the prior fiscal year. In FY 2026, the HEMF will be applied across all patients to identify groups experiencing higher rates of mortality than expected, determine whether actionable variations in care are present, and implement interventions. Success will be evaluated through quarterly dashboards reviews, focusing on highest- and lowest-performing groups and sustained improvement.

3. Structural Measures

5. Download Equity Measures Report

Click on the link below to download the equity measures report.

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