Education campaign to improve hospital collection of data on patient race, ethnicity and primary language

Previous studies have documented significant variations in hospital practice of collecting/reporting patient race and ethnicity data, have identified many errors and misclassifications of certain race and ethnicity categories and stressed the need for standardized data collection, coding and information systems. The New Jersey Discharge Data Collection System (UB-92) is a comprehensive dataset collected by hospitals at admission and during hospital stay and is a major source of data on patients' race and ethnicity. This project's purpose is to improve quality, accuracy and reliability of these data through an intensive educational campaign. This project's objectives are to: develop standardized processes for these data collection following federal (i.e. OMB-15) recommendations on patient self-identification; design a curriculum and training programs to educate hospital workers on the standardized processes (also available in video and interactive Web-based formats); develop educational tools/resources to support hospital improvement efforts (such as a training manual for access managers and a reference manual for frontline registration workers that includes patient interview script and other tools for staff and guides for patients in 14 languages); offer statewide educational programs, regional trainings and on-site consultations on standardized protocols and use of tools/resources; and, measure effectiveness and outcomes of educational resources and trainings using different evaluation techniques. Improved data of patient race, ethnicity and primary language will assist hospitals to better identify patients' risks and needs, assess healthcare disparities, develop culturally appropriate services and programs to address them and improve access and quality of care for New Jersey's minority, underserved and disfranchised populations.