Why We Ask - We Ask Because We Care!

Our Path Forward

CommonSpirit’s commitment to be the nation’s leader in Health Equity is unwavering. As we work to achieve equitable outcomes for all people, our Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging and Community Impact is striving to collect accurate patient health information about our patients’ race, ethnicity, and preferred language. This will:

  • Be crucial for CommonSpirit’s system wide approach to address health equity,

  • Help identify health inequities that may exist in different populations of people, and

  • Help us deliver higher quality care by meeting the unique needs of patients of various linguistic or cultural backgrounds.

CommonSpirit Health's Definition of Health Equity

Our collective commitment to a fair and just opportunity to reach optimal health and wellbeing, especially among underserved, poor and vulnerable populations.

Why are we collecting this information?

We are asking all patients about their race, ethnicity and language to learn more about the communities we serve. This data helps us ensure that everyone receives the highest quality of care.

Why is this information important?

We are embedding health equity throughout the CommonSpirit ministry. To hold up the welcoming shelter of healing that is CommonSpirit Health, we are together in our collective commitment to care. We will care for one another - and heal humanity - by advancing social justice for all. Part of supporting health equity means collecting REaL health information at the point of patients registering with us.

How is this information kept private?

This data is considered confidential, similar to your other health information, and will only be used by those who need to know. The users of the data have very strict rules about how data is reported. 

Can a patient still receive services if they don't provider their REaL information?

Yes, patients can stil receive our services even if they choose not to answer these questions. Answering these questions is voluntary. However the more data we collect, the better we are able to serve our patients.