A recent study by the School of Nursing found disparities in patient outcomes among hospitals that predominantly serve Black communities.
The March 7 study, conducted by the Nursing School’s Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research, examined four indicators of nursing outcomes across 3,101 predominantly urban and non-teaching hospitals. The CHOPR researchers found that hospitals that serve higher rates of Black patients had significantly higher rates of adverse patient outcomes.
Eileen Lake, a Nursing professor and CHOPR associate director, told Penn Nursing News that researchers observed a "clear trend."
While the study found elevated rates of pressure ulcers, perioperative pulmonary embolus and deep vein thrombosis, and postoperative sepsis, the results did not indicate significant differences regarding failure to rescue rates.
The study also revealed that Black-serving hospitals were more likely than other hospitals to have a Magnet designation, a recognition from the American Nurses Credentialing Center that honors excellence in nursing. The researchers noted that these results suggest that patient outcomes are worse in Black-serving hospitals despite strengths in nursing infrastructure.
The study was released three months after another Penn Nursing paper regarding concerns with staffing issues in Black-serving hospitals. The Jan. 2 study found that nurses in Black-serving hospitals are responsible for 6% more patients compared to their counterparts.
Researchers emphasized the importance of investigating other systemic factors that contribute to disparities in patient outcomes. The study called for immediate policy and management interventions in light of poorer patient outcomes and disproportionate nurse staffing in Black-serving hospitals.
In 2019, another study from Penn's School of Nursing found that the environment of nursing work has the potential to improve patient outcomes, along with the safety of clinicians. Through a meta-analysis of past studies, CHOPR researchers concluded that nurse work contributes to a positive hospital environment and should warrant resources and recognition from health care administrators.
“Our results support the unique status of the nurse work environment as a foundation for both patient and provider well-being that warrants the resources and attention of health care administrators,” Lake told Penn Nursing News in 2019.
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