This chapter discusses the role of quality improvement (QI) as a vehicle for eliminating racial and ethnic disparities in
healthcare. Disparities in health and disparities healthcare are not synonymous. The latter represents only one of many contributors to disparities in health. Furthermore, healthcare
disparities result from a complex constellation of patient, provider, organizational, and community/societal factors. Tackling
inequities in healthcare requires addressing the predominant cause of a particular healthcare disparity. This can be done
through well-designed QI interventions. Such interventions can potentially reduce healthcare disparities through either targeted
or universally applied strategies. The former specifically targets minority patients within a healthcare organization or targets
organizations that serve largely minority patients. The latter applies QI activities to all patients in the expectation that
the intervention disproportionately benefits minorities. A range of QI tools exist to improve care to minorities. Review of
available evidence shows that it is possible to reduce, if not eliminate, disparities in healthcare using these tools. However,
doing so requires a concerted commitment on the part of health plans and insurance payers to adequately finance such efforts.