Upstream Factors Associated With Hospitalization in Black- and Minority-Serving Hospitals
By
Louisa W. Holaday
Alina Kung
Yingtong Chen
Karen McKendrick
Bian Liu
Albert Siu
July 17, 2026
Clinical Scorecard: Factors Influencing Hospital Admissions in Hospitals Serving Black and Minority Populations
At a Glance
Category Detail
Condition Racial disparities in health outcomes Key Mechanisms Neighborhood disadvantage and residential segregation affecting hospital admissions Target Population Black and minority populations, particularly Medicare beneficiaries Care Setting Hospitals serving Black and minority populations
Key Highlights
Racial disparities persist despite desegregation of hospitals in 1966. Black-serving hospitals (BSH) have lower revenue, profit, and access to specialty care. Patients in BSH generally experience worse outcomes independent of other factors. Residential segregation is linked to racial separation of hospital care. Black patients often prefer BSH even if further away. Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Assess neighborhood deprivation and health care market residential segregation. Management
Consider the impact of hospital type on patient outcomes. Monitoring & Follow-up
Track hospitalization patterns among racial and ethnic groups. Risks
Higher hospitalization rates in BSH may indicate systemic health disparities. Patient & Prescribing Data
Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 and older
Hospitalization patterns may differ based on race and type of hospitalization.
Clinical Best Practices
Utilize comprehensive definitions for identifying BSH and MSH. Incorporate social deprivation index (SDI) in patient assessments. Related Resources & Content
