Collection of Patient Race/Ethnicity

1. Collection of Patient Race/Ethnicity Linda Powell THR

2. Why are we changing the data collected for the patient’s race and ethnicity? • Effective April 1, 2002, the Health and Safety Code mandates that Texas Health Care Information Council collect the data on the racial and ethnic background of hospital patients.

3. What are the new codes ? • American Indian or Alaska Native • A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America), and who maintains tribal affiliation or community attachment.

4. New codes continued • Asian • A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent including, for example Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Island, Thailand and Vietnam.

5. New codes continued • Black or African American • A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa. Terms such as “Haitian” or”Negro” can be used in addition to “Black or African American”.

6. New codes continued • Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander • A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands.

7. New codes continued • White • A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe (therefore a majority of persons from Latin countries are of European descent and are considered White), Middle East, or North Africa.

8. What is Ethnicity? • Ethnicity describes people of or relating to a member of a racial, national, or cultural group. • Ethnicity is best described as: • Hispanic or Latino Origin • Non-Hispanic Origin

9. What describes ones Race ? • Asian/Pacific Islander • Black • Native American/Eskimo/Aleut • White • Other/Unknown

10. Procedure for collecting race and ethnicity during Patient Registration • All THR registrars are to use the following script when requesting the patient’s race ethnicity. The question on Hispanic/Latino ethnicity should be asked before the race question. The script is as follows: • “We understand this is a sensitive issue, but are required by law to ask the following questions in regards to race and ethnicity. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated. “ • “Of the following two choices, which best describes your ethnicity?” • 1. Hispanic or Latino origin or • 2. Non-Hispanic origin

11. Collecting race and ethnicity continued • The registrar will verify the response by repeating the answer back to the patient. Then the registrar will need to make note of the selection the patient offered. Next the registrar will ask the final question: • “Of the following five choices, please choosethe one that best describes your race.” • 1. Asian/Pacific Islander • 2. Black • 3. Native American/Eskimo/Aleut • 4. White • 5. Other/Unknown

12. Procedure if patient refuses to provide race and ethnicity • If the patient, or person speaking for the patient declines to answer, the hospital staff is to use its best judgement to make the correct classification based on available data.

13. Procedure if patient considers him/herself multi-racial • It is recommended that the “Other/Unknown” race category be reported for people who consider themselves as multi-racial, mixed or interracial.

14. What do we need to do now ? • Identify a contact person at each facility to address any patient concerns. • Admission Director, Manager, and/or Supervisors must ensure all staff members are in-serviced on the new process of data collection for race and ethnicity. • Information Technology will modify the Advance System to allow space for additional information.