Sixth National Conference on Quality Health Care for Culturally Diverse Populations: Peer-to-Peer Practice Advancement Sessions Collecting and Using Race, Ethnicity and Language Information in Health Care Clinics - Lessons Learned from the Minnesota Health Care Disparities Task Force
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B-1 Collecting data on diverse communities: Challenges and successes from health plans, hospitals, and health departments

Collecting and Using Race, Ethnicity and Language Information in Health Care Clinics - Lessons Learned from the Minnesota Health Care Disparities Task Force
Monday, September 22, 2008: 2:00 PM-4:00 PM, Minn Marriott, 4th Floor - Deer/Elk
ABSTRACT: Quality Healthcare Conference
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Healthcare –
A Public/Private Model to Promote Data Collection

Program Description
By attending this peer-to-peer session, participants will learn about how a public/private partnership in Minnesota completed a survey and organized forums with clinics and healthcare organizations in order to promote data collection.  The forums are part of a larger effort of healthcare providers and public entities in the state of Minnesota who have collaborated in an effort to address and reduce disparities in healthcare settings.  In this session the importance of collecting race and ethnicity data in healthcare settings will be discussed. 

In an effort to identify and discuss the goals and importance of race and ethnicity data collection in healthcare settings, the Data Sub-Committee of the Minnesota Governor’s HealthCare Disparities Task Force hosted a series of data forums.  Each forum had a distinct theme regarding data collection including: the business case for collecting race/ethnicity data, how to collect race and ethnicity data and next steps-how to use race and ethnicity data once it has been collected.  The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) and The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) provided the funding and HealthPartners hosted the Forums. 

The presenters for this peer-to-peer session are part of the Minnesota Governor’s Healthcare Disparities Task Force, Data Committee.  This group includes leadership from Health Partners, Fairview Health Systems, UCare, the Minnesota Department of Human Services, Minnesota Department of Health and many others working together to identify the causes of and promote broad, systemic solutions to racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare.  For this peer-to-peer session, the Task Force will be represented by: 

  • Vicki Kunerth or Sukanya Kalia: Both are members of the Task Force as well as Data Subcommittee that planned the forums.  Vicki is the Director of the Performance Measurement & Quality Improvement Division for the Healthcare Administration at DHS.  Sukanya is the Coordinator of Disparities and Cultural Competency Projects for the Children and Family Services Administration at DHS.

Program Value
This session will address how a public/private partnership in Minnesota promoted through data forums the importance and how to collect race and ethnicity data in healthcare settings including: the business case, the legal issues, the logistical issues, loop-back, data sets/categories, staff training and promoting staff buy-in and finally, how to use data once it is collected.  The presenters also will address next steps planned as a result of the forum including providing ongoing accredited trainings for healthcare professionals and organizations on this topic. 

This session will focus on the areas of data, evaluation and research.  Specifically, disparities in the healthcare system, which disproportionately effect people of color, will be discussed.  The lessons learned to be discussed are based on the questions and issues raised by participants in the data forums that could be applied in any region of the United States. 

Please direct questions regarding this peer-to-peer session to:

Vicki Kunerth

vicki.kunerth@state.mn.us

651.431.2618

Sukanya Kalia

Sukanya.kalia@state.mn.us

651.431.4915

Handouts
  • Expanded Abstract.doc (30.5 kB)
  • Suggested categories.doc (239.0 kB)
  • The Case for.doc (26.5 kB)
  • toolkit references.doc (66.0 kB)

    • Presentation Information:

    Program: Peer-to-Peer Practice Advancement Sessions
    Primary Category: Research
    Subtopics: Data collection (on individuals and communities), Quality improvement, Partnerships with community organizations, Disparity reduction, Methods - patient and staff surveys, organizational and patient measures, data collection and analysis

    Region Addressed by Presentation: National
    Organization: Health Care System
    Population/Demographic: n/a

    Vicki Kunerth, RN, MSPH , Department of Human Services, State of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN
      Director of Performance Measurement and Quality Improvement
      State of Minnesota
      Department of Human Services
      540 Cedar Street
      M.S. 0986
      St. Paul MN, USA 55155

      Phone: 651-431-2618
      Fax: 651-431-2182
      Email Address: vicki.kunerth@state.mn.us

      Biographical Sketch:       Vicki Kunerth, RN, MSPH, Director of Performance Measurement and Quality Improvement, Department of Human Services. The Division includes five sections covering Surveillance and Integrity Review, Quality Improvement, Health Care Research and Evaluation, Recipient Help Desk/Managed Care Ombudsman, and Maternal and Child Health which are responsible for the development and application of health care performance measures and outcome monitoring to address priorities, policies, and program integrity in health care purchasing. The Division is also responsible for oversight of the Federal BBA/EQRO quality requirements in managed care contracts.
    Sukanya Kalia, MA , Children & Family Services, Minnesota Department of Human Services, St. Paul, MN
      Coordinator of Disparities and Cultural Competency Projects
      Minnesota Department of Human Services
      Children & Family Services
      444 Lafayette Road
      St. Paul MN, USA
      Phone: 651-431-4915
      Email Address: sukanya.kalia@state.mn.us

      Biographical Sketch:       Sukanya Kalia completed her Master’s at the Humphrey Institute in Public Policy with a minor in Public Health and Population Studies. Currently, Sukanya is a Public Policy Fellow at the Department in Children and Family Services, Strategic Planning and Special Projects. She works mainly on disparities and cultural competency projects. She continues to be a member of the Minnesota Governor’s Healthcare Disparities Task Force and is an involved member of the Data Sub-committee.
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