Referrals to a Novel Health Care Equity Consult Service

In an academic medical center, how are recommendations by a Healthcare Equity Consult Service (HECS) associated with clinical decision-making, hospital policies, and patient-centered outcomes in complex cases where perceptions of bias or perceived systemic barriers may contribute to disparate patient experiences?This study found that HECS consultations were associated with opportunities for bias mitigation, broader understanding of perceived societal barriers, higher clinician awareness of social and systemic factors impacting decision-making, and improved patient-centered communication.HECS recommendations, which are intended to integrate patient-centered, equity-focused support into standard hospital-based care, may offer a replicable strategy for health systems aiming to incorporate equity-informed clinical interventions.

Corresponding Author: Samantha Guyah, LMSW, Michigan Medicine, L1252 Women’s Hospital, 1500 E Medical Center Dr, SPC 5268, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 (sammorg@med.umich.edu).

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