Briefs and Reports

Advancing Health Equity Through National Health Care Quality Standards

As U.S. health care systems pay more attention to quality improvement, health care providers are using national health care quality standards to measure progress. This publication lists several of these national standards and highlights how the advancement of health equity — achieving the same levels of quality and health status for all populations — can be integrated into efforts to improve health care quality. Although these standards have been developed by a variety of governmental and private organizations, they are inter-related and often build on each other. By listing and highlighting the elements in these standards that advance health equity, this publication can be used as a guide for health care providers, policy makers, and advocates to address equity issues while improving overall health care quality.

Author

Ignatius Bau