b'H E A LT H E Q U I T Y We cannot achieve quality without equity because quality must apply to all, not to some. Disparities in patient safety are stark and disturbing. A study by the Urban Institute in 2021 found that Black patients were more likely to suffer avoidable, often deadly errors than white patients in the same hospital. Yet most hospitals do not track disparities, the first step toward addressing them and improving safety for all. This year Leapfrog added questions to its Surveys to assess what actions hospitals and ASCs are taking to identify and reduce health care disparities. The theme of last years annual meeting, Excellence for Everyone: The Path Forward for Patient Care, called attention to disparities in quality. Leaders from quality advocacy organizations like NCQA, NQF, and the Commonwealth Fund spoke out on how we can collectively forge the path forward to achieve safe, high quality, and equitable care at the event. The National Academy of Medicine also published an important paper co-authored by Leapfrogs CEO on the health equity barriers to U.S. health care quality and a call to action for change.S A M E D AY S U R G E R Y : L E A P F R O GS N E W E S T L E A PMore than 60% of all surgeries are performed in outpatient hospital departments or in Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs). In 2019, Leapfrog began collecting data from hospitals on outpatient surgical safety and launched a separate ASC Survey to collect and publicly report on how ASCs compare on safety. That data is being used by employers, health plans, and the public for decision making. ASCs rely on Leapfrogs independent assessment as a primary tool in the market. Many ASCs have emerged as passionate advocates for Leapfrogs transformative effects. For instance, The Center for Spine and Joint Replacement Surgery in Washington State has been participating in the Survey since its inception and recorded notable improvements and benefits.TRANSPARENCY IS ESSENTIAL TO SHOW OUR PATIENTS WE CARE ABOUT THINGS LIKE INFECTION CONTROL AND HAND WASHING AND EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT.STEPHANIE JAROSS, ASC DIRECTOR, THE CENTER FORSPINE AND JOINT REPLACEMENT ANNUAL REPORT 2021-20229'