UCSD HEALTH LA JOLLA – JACOBS MEDICAL CENTER & SULPIZIO CARDIOVASCULAR CENTER

1. Top 10 Disparities

2. Equity Plan

Advancing health equity is a strategic priority for UC San Diego Health (UCSDH). Over the past four years, we have established foundational infrastructure—including a Department of Health Equity and a Health Equity Council.
To address our top 10 disparity gaps, UCSDH will implement an integrated plan over the next three years focused on data transparency, workforce engagement, evidence-based interventions, and continuous measurement.
Governance and Accountability
The Department of Health Equity, created in 2022 and led by Chief Health Equity Officer (CHEO), coordinates this work. The CHEO reports directly to the CEO and has seven full-time staff dedicated to advancing health and healthcare equity, including implementing, monitoring, and evaluating disparity-reduction initiatives. The Health Equity Council, co-chaired by the CHEO and Chief Quality and Safety Officer, and inclusive of 20+ leaders across the organization, provides strategic and operational guidance and alignment of health equity efforts and reports quarterly to the Executive Committee. Clinical workgroups and foundational subcommittees report into the Health Equity Council. The clinical workgroups consist of individuals within the service lines/departments that will lead implementation of the closure of the inequity gaps we have identified. The foundational subcommittees (e.g., social drivers of health, health equity data & analytics, language access) will support and enable the work of the clinical workgroups to enable inequity gap closures.
Population Impact
Our readmission disparities disproportionately affect patients by sex, those from historically marginalized racial/ethnic groups, patients with Medi-Cal and Medicare coverage, and younger patients. We will use a Targeted Universalism framework, which seems to improve outcomes for all patients, while tailoring intervention strategies to close the identified disparity gaps, while seeking to provide excellent care to all patients.
Planned Actions and Timelines
1. Data Sharing and Awareness (Ongoing; Q3-Q4 FY26):
• Disseminate stratified readmission, California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative (CMQCC), Patient Safety Indicator Mortality dashboards to executives, clinical leaders, and frontline teams.
• Conduct educational sessions on interpreting equity dashboards and root cause identification.
• Solicit input from the top 100 equity dashboard users to refine dashboards to guide quality improvement efforts.
2. Root Cause Analysis and Evidence Review (Q4-Q1 FY26/27):
• Conduct structured root cause analyses with clinical teams in the top disparity areas (e.g., heart failure, sepsis, surgical readmissions, Ob-Gyn), through deeper analysis of data and utilization of A3 workshops and the existing partnership between the Health Equity and the Transformational Health (process improvement) teams.
• Identify evidence-based interventions that have reduced readmissions in similar populations.
3. Development of Action Plans (Q2-Q3 FY27):
• Each clinical service line will develop a disparity reduction plan, including measurable objectives, responsible parties (RACI matrix), and milestones.
• Plans will include interventions addressing social drivers of health, care transitions, literacy-sensitive patient education, and timely and appropriate follow-up care.
4. Implementation and Evaluation (FY27-FY28):
• Pilot and scale interventions such as enhanced post-discharge follow-up for high-risk populations including stronger connections with home health care, community health worker outreach, culturally and linguistically appropriate patient education, and improved care coordination for patients with limited English proficiency or unmet health-related social needs (e.g., transportation barriers).
• Monitor progress using quarterly stratified reports on readmission rates by race, ethnicity, age, language, sex, payor, and Healthy Places Index.
Measurable Objectives
• Reduce disparities and payor status in 30-day unplanned readmission rates.
• Increase post-discharge follow-up within 7 days for patients at high unplanned readmission risk.
• Ensure all high-unplanned readmission clinical teams have implemented at least one evidence-based disparity intervention.
Sustainability and Continuous Learning
• Incorporate equity dashboards and disparity metrics into monthly Quality Council and Health Equity Council meetings.
• Host annual Health Equity Symposia to share results and best practices.
• Expand staff training in equity-focused quality improvement approaches.
Expected Impact
By integrating disparity reduction into the core quality framework, UCSDH aims to improve patient outcomes, enhance continuity of care, and advance equitable health for all populations.

3. Structural Measures

4. Web Address for Equity Report

https://health.ucsd.edu/patients/

5. Download Equity Measures Report

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

6. Looking for Related Reports?

• Hospital Fair Billing Policies
• Hospital Profile