Reallocation of Organizational Resources to Improve Access to Palliative Care for Black Patients in Maryland

Hospice of the Chesapeake Supportive Care Service recognized that Black communities within its service region had disproportionately less access to its services compared to other racial/ethnic communities. In response, the service reallocated resources to ensure availability of racially concordant clinicians, and to build a stronger partnership with the Black community. Since January of 2017, its Hospice and Supportive Care service line has remained committed to increasing access to care for Black people living with serious illness in the community. This commitment also included an increase in staff who identify as Black, e.g., 37% of their Nurse Practitioners, 50% Registered Nurses, and 50% of the Coordinators/Managers. Ensuring racially concordant care helps meet the needs of this typically underserved population.