Improved Accuracy/Completeness of EHR Race/Ethnicity Data: A Requisite Step to Address Disparities in Care

Allison L Weathers; Neeta Garg; Karen B Lundgren; Sarah M Benish; Christine B Baca; Richard T Benson

doi:10.1212/CPJ.0000000000200313

Improved Accuracy/Completeness of EHR Race/Ethnicity Data: A Requisite Step to Address Disparities in Care

Neurol Clin Pract. 2024 Jun;14(3):e200313. doi: 10.1212/CPJ.0000000000200313. Epub 2024 Apr 16.

Authors

Allison L Weathers¹, Neeta Garg¹, Karen B Lundgren¹, Sarah M Benish¹, Christine B Baca¹, Richard T Benson¹

Affiliation

¹ Information Technology Division (ALW), Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH; Department of Neurology (NG), University of California, Los Angeles; American Academy of Neurology (KBL); Department of Neurology (SMB), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Department of Neurology (CBB), Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA; and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (RTB), NIH, Bethesda, MD.

PMID: 38720950
PMCID: PMC11073868 (available on 2025-06-01)
DOI: 10.1212/CPJ.0000000000200313

Abstract

Accurate and complete racial/ethnic data in the electronic health record are a requisite step to addressing disparities in neurologic care, and at local, regional, and national levels. The current data pertaining to the patients' race and ethnicity contained in the electronic health record are inadequate. This article outlines recommendations at the individual practice and electronic health record vendor level to improve documentation of race and ethnicity.