Headline: New Study Validates Health Equity Report Card for Cancer Care
The Health Equity Report Card (HERC) has shown promising potential as a transformative tool for enhancing equitable cancer care delivery. A recent study presented at the American Public Health Association’s (APHA) 2024 Annual Meeting revealed that all participating academic cancer centers reported that implementing the HERC would either inform or reinforce necessary changes in institutional processes. This finding is significant as it underscores the tool’s applicability and adaptability to promote health equity across diverse healthcare settings.
Preliminary Findings on HERC Implementation
The study, authored by Taneal D. Carter, MS, MPA, revealed that five academic cancer centers participated in the pilot study assessing the feasibility of the HERC tool. The results indicate that every site either strongly agreed or agreed on the relevance of the HERC performance measures, metrics, and sources of evidence tailored to their institutions. Notably, four out of five institutions expressed optimism about the feasibility of meeting benchmark metrics through evidence collection.
Furthermore, the Health Equity Report Card utilized the Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) tool for data collection, and feedback suggested that three sites confirmed its usability and self-scoring capabilities, while two sites withheld any opinion.
Addressing Disparities in Cancer Care
Taneal D. Carter, who manages the National Comprehensive Cancer Center (NCCN) Cancer Care Equity Program, emphasized the urgency of addressing disparities in cancer care delivery. “Studies clearly show that unequal experiences and opportunities in cancer care result in worse outcomes and shorter life expectancies for people in underserved communities,” she stated. The HERC was designed as an objective tool to promote equity in cancer care through measurable, achievable changes. According to Carter, the pilot data are promising, indicating that these equity goals are indeed attainable.
The creation of the HERC was a collaborative effort between the NCCN, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), and the National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF). The HERC comprises 19 specific practice evaluation and change recommendations that guide healthcare providers and organizations in identifying and mitigating care disparities, biases, and the influence of social determinants of health.
The HERC Framework: Domains of Evaluation
The HERC evaluates equitable practices through four key domains:
- Community Engagement – Facilitating active involvement of underserved populations.
- Accessibility of Care and Social Determinants of Health – Ensuring that care is reachable and considers societal factors affecting health.
- Addressing Bias in Care Delivery – Implementing measures to combat implicit biases that impact treatment outcomes.
- Quality and Comprehensiveness of Care – Evaluating the thoroughness and quality of care provided.
To gather comprehensive feedback, the study utilized semi-quantitative surveys assessing perceptions of HERC’s feasibility and usability both before implementation and after initial scoring. The responses indicated that three out of five centers initially anticipated some challenges regarding HERC implementation’s difficulty. However, one center believed the HERC would reinforce change, while four centers felt it would positively inform changes to institutional practices.
Looking Ahead: Further Analysis and Impact Evaluation
Crystal S. Denlinger, MD, Chief Executive Officer of NCCN, expressed enthusiasm about the findings. “These preliminary findings demonstrate the HERC’s usability and underscore its potential as a transformative tool for measuring and improving equity in cancer care,” she commented. Denlinger also affirmed the relevance of the HERC’s performance measures to the participating institutions, signaling a collaborative effort towards ongoing analysis and feedback to enhance the tool further.
While the initial findings of the HERC’s usability are promising, the study emphasizes that further scoring and impact evaluation are essential. Upcoming evaluations will include additional pilot projects that assess equitable cancer care practices within community-based settings, which will enhance the ease of use and effectiveness of the HERC tool in real-world scenarios.
Join the Conversation
As healthcare providers and institutions continue to navigate the complexities of cancer care delivery, the HERC presents a valuable opportunity to implement sustainable improvements in equity. The information gleaned from this preliminary study sets the stage for informed discussions about how to best serve various patient populations, particularly in underserved communities.
We invite you to share your thoughts on the HERC tool and its implications for cancer care equity. What strategies have you seen implemented that successfully address healthcare disparities in your community? We encourage your comments and insights on this critical topic.
For more detailed information, visit the original research presented at the American Public Health Association and explore additional insights on technology’s role in health equity on platforms like TechCrunch, The Verge, and Wired.
