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Health Equity Measurement

Research focused on health equity measurement

Resources List

A selection of articles, reports, and other resources focused on health equity and health equity measurement are listed below by category.

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Health Equity Measurement

Anderson, A. C., O'Rourke, E., Chin, M. H., Ponce, N. A., Bernheim, S. M., & Burstin, H. (2018). Promoting health equity and eliminating disparities through performance measurement and payment. Health Affairs, 37(3), 371-377. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2017.1301 Open Access

Keppel, K., Pamuk, E., Lynch, J., Carter-Pokras, O., Kim, I., Mays, V., . . . Weissman, J. S. (2005, July). Methodological issues in measuring health disparities (DHHS Publication No. (PHS) 2005-1341). Vital and Health Statistics, 2(141). National Center for Health Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_02/sr02_141.pdf Open Access

Office of Health Equity, Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment. (n.d.). Measuring performance to advance equity. Retrieved from https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/suite-of-tools Open Access

  • Link to document as posted to Google Drive

Penman-Aguilar, A., Talih, M., Huang, D., Moonesinghe, R., Bouye, K., & Beckles, G. (2016). Measurement of health disparities, health inequities, and social determinants of health to support the advancement of health equity. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 22(Suppl 1), S33-S42. https://dx.doi.org/10.1097/PHH.0000000000000373 subscription required

Prevention Institute. (2015). Measuring what works to achieve health equity: Metrics for the determinants of health. Retrieved from https://www.preventioninstitute.org/publications/measuring-what-works-achieve-health-equity-metrics-determinants-health Open Access

Santana, P., Freitas, Â., Stefanik, I., Costa, C., Oliveira, M., Rodrigues, T. C., Vieira, A., Ferreira, P. L., Borrell, C., Dimitroulopoulou, S., Rican, S., Mitsakou, C., Marí-Dell’Olmo, M., Schweikart, J., Corman, D., & Bana e Costa, C. A. (2020). Advancing tools to promote health equity across European Union regions: The EURO-HEALTHY project. Health Research Policy and Systems, 18(18). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-020-0526-y Open Access

Health Equity Frameworks

American Public Health Association. (2015). Better health through equity: Case studies in reframing public health work. Retrieved from https://www.apha.org/~/media/files/pdf/topics/equity/equity_stories.ashx Open Access

Ansari, Z., Carson, N. J., Ackland, M. J., Vaughan, L., & Serraglio, A. (2003). A public health model of the social determinants of health. Sozial- und Präventivmedizin/Social and Preventive Medicine, 48, 242-251. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-003-2052-4 subscription required

Canadian Council on Social Determinants of Health. (2015). A review of frameworks on the determinants of health. Retrieved from http://ccsdh.ca/images/uploads/Frameworks_Report_English.pdf Open Access

Crawford, A., & Serhal, E. (2020). Digital health equity and COVID-19: The innovation curve cannot reinforce the social gradient of health. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 22(6), e19361. https://doi.org/10.2196/19361 Open Access

Dover, D. C., & Belon, A. P. (2019). The health equity measurement framework: a comprehensive model to measure social inequities in health. International Journal for Equity in Health, 18(36). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-019-0935-0 Open Access

Dover, D. C., & Belon, A. P. (2019). Correction to: The health equity measurement framework: a comprehensive model to measure social inequities in health. International Journal for Equity in Health, 18(58). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-019-0949-7 Open Access

Freeman, T., Javanparast, S., Baum, F., Ziersch, A., & Mackean, T. (2018). A framework for regional primary health care to organise actions to address health inequities. International Journal of Public Health, 63(5), 567–575. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-018-1083-9 subscription required

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Hankivsky, O. (Ed.). (2012). An intersectionality-based policy analysis framework. Institute for Intersectionality Research and Policy, Simon Fraser University. Open Access

Hankivsky, O., Grace, D., Hunting, G., Giesbrecht, M., Fridkin, A., Rudrum, S., Ferlatte, O., & Clark, N. (2014). An intersectionality-based policy analysis framework: Critical reflections on a methodology for advancing equity. International Journal for Equity in Health, 13, 119. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-014-0119-x Open Access

Health Quality Council of Alberta. (2005). Alberta Quality Matrix for Health. Retrieved from https://hqca.ca/about/how-we-work/the-alberta-quality-matrix-for-health-1/ Open Access

Hogan, V., Rowley, D. L., White, S. B., & Faustin, Y. (2018). Dimensionality and R4P: A health equity framework for research planning and evaluation in African American populations. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 22(2), 147–153. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-017-2411-z subscription required

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Kramer, M. R., Strahan, A. E., Preslar, J., Zaharatos, J., St Pierre, A., Grant, J. E., Davis, N. L., Goodman, D. A., & Callaghan, W. M. (2019). Changing the conversation: Applying a health equity framework to maternal mortality reviews. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 221(6), 609.e1-609.e9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2019.08.057 subscription required

Laderman, M., & Whittington, J. (2016). A framework for improving health equity. Healthcare Executive, 31(3), 82–85. subscription required

Liburd, L. C., Hall, J. E., Mpofu, J. J., Williams, S. M., Bouye, K., & Penman-Aguilar, A. (2020). Addressing health equity in public health practice: Frameworks, promising strategies, and measurement considerations. Annual Review of Public Health, 41, 417-432. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-040119-094119 Open Access

Ministry of Health, New Zealand. (2014). Equity of health care for Māori: A framework. Retrieved from https://www.health.govt.nz/publication/equity-health-care-maori-framework Open Access

Ministry of Health, Toronto, Ontario. (2012). Health Equity Impact Assessment (HEIA) Tool. Retrieved from http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/heia/ Open Access

Multnomah County Health Department. (2014). 2014 report card on racial and ethnic disparities. Retrieved from https://multco.us/file/37530/download Open Access

Pottie, K., Agic, B., Archibald, D., Ratnayake, A., Tapia, M., & Thanos, J. (2019). HEIA tools: Inclusion of migrants in health policy in Canada. Health Promotion International, 34(4), 697-705. https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/day016 subscription required

Prevention Institute. (2015). Moving from understanding to action on health equity: Social determinants of health frameworks and THRIVE. Retrieved from https://www.preventioninstitute.org/publications/moving-understanding-action-health-equity-social-determinants-health-frameworks-and Open Access

Sadare, O., Williams, M., & Simon, L. (2020). Implementation of the Health Equity Impact Assessment (HEIA) tool in a local public health setting: Challenges, facilitators, and impacts. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 111(2), 212–219. https://doi.org/10.17269/s41997-019-00269-2 subscription required

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Trinh-Shevrin, C., Islam, N. S., Nadkarni, S., Park, R., & Kwon, S. C. (2015). Defining an integrative approach for health promotion and disease prevention: A population health equity framework. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 26(2 Suppl), 146–163. https://doi.org/10.1353/hpu.2015.0067 subscription required

Wyatt, R., Laderman, M., Botwinick, L., Mate, K., & Whittington, J. (2016). Achieving health equity: A guide for health care organizations [white paper]. Institute for Healthcare Improvement. Retrieved from http://www.ihi.org/resources/Pages/IHIWhitePapers/Achieving-Health-Equity.aspx Open Access

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World Health Organization. (2010). A conceptual framework for action on the social determinants of health [Social determinants of health discussion paper 2]. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/sdhconference/resources/ConceptualframeworkforactiononSDH_eng.pdf Open Access

Health Equity Policies & Plans

Bliss, D., Mishra, M., Ayers, J., & Lupi, M. V. (2016). Cross-sectoral collaboration: The state health official's role in elevating and promoting health equity in all policies in Minnesota. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 22(Suppl 1), S87-S93. https://doi.org/10.1097/PHH.0000000000000330 subscription required

Brown, C., Harrison, D., Burns, H., & Ziglio, E. (2014). Governance for health equity: Taking forward the equity values and goals of Health 2020 in the WHO European Region. World Health Organization. Retrieved from https://www.euro.who.int/en/publications/abstracts/governance-for-health-equity-2014 Open Access

California Pan-Ethnic Health Network. (2018). California Reducing Disparities Project: Strategic plan to reduce mental health disparities. Retrieved from https://cpehn.org/page/california-reducing-disparities-project-strategic-plan-reduce-mental-health-disparities Open Access

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2019, December 11). CMS equity plan for Medicare. Retrieved from https://www.cms.gov/About-CMS/Agency-Information/OMH/equity-initiatives/equity-plan Open Access

Dean, H., Roberts, G. W., Bouye, K. E., Green, Y., & McDonald, M. (2016). Sustaining a focus on health equity at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through organizational structures and functions. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 22(Suppl 1), S60-S67. https://10.1097/PHH.0000000000000305 subscription required

Dicent Taillepierre, J. C., Liburd, L., O'Connor, A., Valentine, J., Bouye, K., McCree, D. H., Chapel, T., & Hahn, R. (2016). Toward achieving health equity: Emerging evidence and program practice. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 22(Suppl 1), S43-S49. https://doi.org/10.1097/PHH.0000000000000375 subscription required

Hall, M., Graffunder, C., & Metzler, M. (2016). Policy approaches to advancing health equity. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 22(Suppl 1), S50-S59. https://doi.org/10.1097/PHH.0000000000000365 subscription required

Liburd, L., Ehlinger, E., Liao, Y., & Lichtveld, M. (2016). Strengthening the science and practice of health equity in public health. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 22(Suppl 1), S1-S4. https://doi.org10.1097/PHH.0000000000000379 subscription required

Mendoza-Walters, A., Mishra, M., Carlin, M., Nweke, O. C., Sellers, K., & Jarris, P. (2016). State and territorial infrastructure for health equity and minority health. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 22(Suppl 1), S77-S86. https://doi.org/10.1097/PHH.0000000000000336 subscription required

Mishra, M., Lupi, M. V., Miller, W. J., & Nolfo, T. (2016). Promoting health and behavioral health equity in California. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 22(Suppl 1), S100-S106. https://doi.org/10.1097/PHH.0000000000000309 subscription required

Office of Health Equity, Health Resources & Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2018). Health equity report 2017. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved from https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/health-equity/2017-HRSA-health-equity-report.pdf Open Access

Health Equity & CCOs (Coordinated Care Organizations)

Bau, I., & Transformation Center, Oregon Health Authority. (2017, June). Opportunities for Oregon's coordinated care organizations to advance health equity. Retrieved from https://www.oregon.gov/oha/HPA/DSI-TC/Documents/CCO-Opportunities-to-Advance-Health-Equity.pdf Open Access

Bau, I., & Transformation Center, Oregon Health Authority. (2019, January). Oregon's coordinated care organizations advancing health equity. Retrieved from https://www.oregon.gov/oha/HPA/dsi-tc/Resources/Oregon-CCOs-Advancing-Health-Equity.PDF Open Access

Wyatt, R., Laderman, M., Botwinick, L., Mate, K., & Whittington, J. (2016). Achieving health equity: A guide for health care organizations (IHI White Paper). Cambridge, MA: Institute for Healthcare Improvement. Retrieved from http://www.ihi.org/resources/Pages/IHIWhitePapers/Achieving-Health-Equity.aspx Open Access

Language Access

Applebaum, B., & Robbins, S. (2016). Language access and health equity: Changes under the Affordable Care Act. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 27(2), 416-426. https://doi.org/10.1353/hpu.2016.0064 subscription required

Bohm, P., & Cupertino, A. P. (2015). Accommodating limited English proficient Spanish speakers in rural hospitals. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 17(4), 1277-1279. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-014-0038-3 subscription required

Carmona, R. H. (2007). Improving language access: A personal and national agenda. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 22(Suppl 2), 277-278. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-007-0376-0 Open Access

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2014). Strategic language access plan (LAP) to improve access to CMS federally conducted activities by persons with limited English proficiency (LEP). Retrieved from https://www.cms.gov/About-CMS/Agency-Information/OEOCRInfo/Downloads/CMS-LAP-Updated-2014-508.pdf Open Access

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2017, April). Understanding communication and language needs of Medicare beneficiaries. Retrieved from https://www.cms.gov/About-CMS/Agency-Information/OMH/Downloads/Issue-Briefs-Understanding-Communication-and-Language-Needs-of-Medicare-Beneficiaries.pdf Open Access

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2017, September). How healthcare providers meet patient language needs: Highlights of a Medscape provider survey. Retrieved from https://www.cms.gov/About-CMS/Agency-Information/OMH/Downloads/Issue-Brief-How-Healthcare-Providers-Meet-Patient-Language-Needs.pdf Open Access

Chen, A. H., Youdelman, M. K., & Brooks, J. (2007). The legal framework for language access in healthcare settings: Title VI and beyond. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 22(Suppl 2), 362-367. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-007-0366-2 Open Access

Daniel, L. (2015). Improving the delivery of care to limited English proficiency patients. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing, 44(Suppl 1), S38-S39. https://doi.org/10.1111/1552-6909.12720 subscription required

Diamond, L., Izquierdo, K., Canfield, D., Matsoukas, K., & Gany, F. (2019). A systematic review of the impact of patient-physician non-English language concordance on quality of care and outcomes. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 34(8), 1591-1606. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-019-04847-5 Open Access

Estrada, R. D., & Messias, D. K. H. (2018). Language co-construction and collaboration in interpreter-mediated primary care encounters with Hispanic adults. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 29(6), 498-505. https://doi.org/10.1177/1043659617747523 subscription required

Geisz, M. B. (2011, April 18). Speaking Together: National Language Services Network. Retrieved from https://www.rwjf.org/en/library/research/2011/04/speaking-together.html Open Access

George Washington University School of Public Health & Health Services Center for Health Policy Research. (2008, June 6). Speaking Together toolkit. Retrieved from https://www.rwjf.org/en/library/research/2008/06/speaking-together-toolkit0.html Open Access

Gershon, R., Morris, L., & Ferguson, W. (2016). Including language access into Medicaid ACO design. The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, 44(3), 492-502. https://doi.org/10.1177/1073110516667945 subscription required

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Jacobs, E. (2008). A better measure of patients’ need for interpreter services. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 23(10), 1724-1725. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-008-0759-x Open Access

Jacobs, E. A., Lauderdale, D. S., Meltzer, D., Shorey, J. M., Levinson, W., & Thisted, R. A. (2001). Impact of interpreter services on delivery of health care to limited-English-proficient patients. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 16(7), 468-474. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1525-1497.2001.016007468.x subscription required

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Jacobs, E. A., Shepard, D. S., Suaya, J. A., & Stone, E.-L. (2004). Overcoming language barriers in health care: Costs and benefits of interpreter services. American Journal of Public Health, 95(5), 866-869. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.94.5.866 Open Access

Karliner, L. (2019). Establishing the necessary conditions for achieving language access and equitable, quality care for populations with limited English proficiency. The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety, 45(6), 395-396. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcjq.2019.04.004 subscription required

Lee, J. S., Pérez-Stable, E. J., Gregorich, S. E., Crawford, M. H., Green, A., Livaudais-Toman, J., & Karliner, L. S. (2017). Increased access to professional interpreters in the hospital improves informed consent for patients with limited English proficiency. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 32(8), 863-870. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-017-3983-4 Open Access

López, L., Rodriguez, F., Huerta, D., Soukup, J., & Hicks, L. (2015). Use of interpreters by physicians for hospitalized limited English proficient patients and its impact on patient outcomes. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 30(6), 783-789. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-015-3213-x Open Access

Mirza, M., & Harrison, E. A. (2018). Working with clients with limited English proficiency: Mapping language access in occupational therapy. Occupational Therapy in Health Care, 32(2), 105-123. https://doi.org/10.1080/07380577.2018.1434722 subscription required

Moreland, C. J., Ritley, D., Rainwater, J. A., & Romano, P. S. (2012). State policies and language access in California’s HMOs: Public reporting and regulation of HMOs’ language services. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 23(1), 474-498. https://doi.org/10.1353/hpu.2012.0020 subscription required

National Academies of Sciences and Medicine. (2018). A proposed framework for integration of quality performance measures for health literacy, cultural competence, and language access services: Proceedings of a workshop. National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/24918 subscription required

Njeru, J. W., Boehm, D. H., Jacobson, D. J., Guzman-Corrales, L. M., Fan, C., Shimotsu, S., & Wieland, M. L. (2017). Diabetes outcome and process measures among patients who require language interpreter services in Minnesota primary care practices. Journal of Community Health, 42(4), 819-825. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-017-0323-x subscription required

Paradise, R. K., Hatch, M., Quessa, A., Gargano, F., Khaliif, M., & Costa, V. (2019). Reducing the use of ad hoc interpreters at a safety-net health care system. The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety, 45(6), 397-405. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcjq.2019.01.004 subscription required

Parés-Avila, J. A., Sobralske, M. C., & Katz, J. R. (2011). No comprendo: Practice considerations when caring for Latinos with limited English proficiency in the United States health care system. Hispanic Health Care International, 9(4), 159-167. https://doi.org/10.1891/1540-4153.9.4.159 subscription required

Regenstein, M. (2007). Measuring and improving the quality of hospital language services: Insights from the Speaking Together collaborative. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 22(Suppl 2), 356-359. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-007-0358-2 Open Access

Schiaffino, M. K., Al-Amin, M., & Schumacher, J. R. (2014). Predictors of language service availability in U.S. hospitals. International Journal of Health Policy And Management, 3(5), 259-268. https://doi.org/10.15171/ijhpm.2014.95 Open Access

Showstack, R. (2019). Patients don’t have language barriers; The healthcare system does. Emergency Medicine Journal, 36(10), 580–581. https://doi.org/10.1136/emermed-2019-208929 subscription required

Showstack, R. E., Guzman, K., Chesser, A. K., & Woods, N. K. (2019). Improving Latino health equity through Spanish language interpreter advocacy in Kansas. Hispanic Health Care International, 17(1), 18-22. https://doi.org/10.1177/1540415318818706 subscription required

Sperling, J. (2009). Improving immigrants’ access to public services in the United States: Language access policy and policy implementation. Current Issues in Language Planning, 10(4), 405-421. https://doi.org/10.1080/14664200903555013 subscription required

Tang, S. Y. S. (1999). Interpreter services in healthcare: Policy recommendations for healthcare agencies. The Journal of Nursing Administration, 29(6), 23-29. https://doi.org/10.1097/00005110-199906000-00006 subscription required

Teitelbaum, J., Cartwright-Smith, L., & Rosenbaum, S. (2012). Translating rights into access: Language access and the Affordable Care Act. American Journal of Law & Medicine, 38(2–3), 348-373. https://doi.org/10.1177/009885881203800205 subscription required

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The Joint Commission. (2010). Advancing effective communication, cultural competence, and patient- and family-centered care: A roadmap for hospitals. The Joint Commission. Retrieved from https://www.jointcommission.org/-/media/tjc/documents/resources/patient-safety-topics/health-equity/aroadmapforhospitalsfinalversion727pdf.pdf Open Access

Wamwayi, M. O., Cope, V., & Murray, M. (2019). Service gaps related to culturally appropriate mental health care for African immigrants. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 28(5), 1113-1121. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.12622 subscription required

Weiss, L., Scherer, M., Chantarat, T., Oshiro, T., Padgen, P., Pagan, J., Rosenfeld, P., & Yin, H. S. (2019). Assessing the impact of language access regulations on the provision of pharmacy services. Journal of Urban Health, 96(4), 644-651. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-018-0240-z Open Access

Wilson, C. C. (2013). Patient safety and healthcare quality: The case for language access. International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 1(4), 251-253. https://doi.org/10.15171/ijhpm.2013.53 Open Access

Youdelman, M. K. (2008). The medical tongue: U.S. laws and policies on language access. Health Affairs, 27(2), 424-433. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.27.2.424 Open Access