Date of Award

Spring 1-4-2023

Embargo Period

1-25-2023

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Health Administration

College

College of Health Professions

First Advisor

Jillian Harvey

Second Advisor

Zahi Jurdi

Third Advisor

Jami Jones

Abstract

Goal: As the diversity of the United States population increases, hospitals must be equipped with the appropriate tools and resources to address the unique needs of their diverse patients. The goal of this study was to examine if there is a correlation between a hospital board's demographic makeup and health equity initiatives implementation. Methods: Using dataset from the American Hospital Association’s 2020 Annual Survey and the 2021 National Governance Survey, we performed a quantitative analysis of Illinois for-profit and not for profit hospitals evaluating the types of health equity initiatives implemented versus their board demographic. Hospitals were excluded if they did not complete both surveys. Using a composite score of gender and racial diversity, each hospital board was placed into a diversity category of high, medium, or low. Data was calculated using Stata/MP 17.0 software for correlation using fishers’ exact. Principle Findings: Of the 209 hospitals in Illinois, 30 (14.4%) completed both surveys and qualified for inclusion in the study. Results showcased that those hospitals with high board diversity did not have a significant difference in the implementation of health equity initiatives highlighted in the surveys compared to those with medium or low diversity. Practical Applications: As health equity policy and regulations expand, hospitals are making conscious efforts to implement tactics that address the needs of underrepresented and historically marginalized patients. Results from this study suggest that hospital boards with high diversity composition focus on streamlined health equity initiatives which will have the greatest impact on the community. However, boards with low or medium diversity composition implement a variety of initiatives which may dilute overall impact. While boards may influence the development of health equity strategies, successful implementation results from an organization’s mission and vision which define strategic alignment and individual accountability of patient outcomes across the organization.

Rights

Copyright is held by the author. All rights reserved.

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