Beyond rhetoric: what we need to know to eliminate disparities.

Racial and ethnic disparities in health care are well documented and can be discussed in 3 broad categories: health system factors, patient-level factors, and patient/provider interaction. Clinicians and others working in health care and related fields are knowledgeable about disparities in health, but the general US population is not. Racial/ethnic disparities are most striking in life expectancy, infant mortality, and lack of health insurance. The inaugural edition of the National Healthcare Disparities Report, due out in 2003, will provide valuable insights into the state of health care in America, including a comprehensive view of disparities in health care. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality is conducting and supporting research, data collection, and other initiatives aimed at reducing racial/ethnic disparities in health care. The documented disparities in health care represent a critical opportunity for quality improvement that requires input from all sectors, including policymakers, providers, community leaders, and patients.