Researchers examined data from U.S. communities with the largest populations of racial and ethnic minorities to calculate how far residents travel for hospital care. It’s typically farther than their white counterparts living a few zip codes away.

It’s most pronounced in rural areas with sizable populations of Black and American Indian/Alaska Native residents. Median distances ranged from 16.2 miles for emergency services and 25.6 miles for trauma care.

The solution lies in communities and policymakers collaborating to address current facility gaps to prevent continued inequities caused by hospital closures and mergers. What could help?

• Requiring a commitment from institutions involved in mergers/closures to maintain or expand services in underserved areas as part of the approval process.
• Proactive collaborations with relevant licensing bodies, professional associations and community organizations representing minority groups to stay abreast of ongoing plans.

Researchers also looked at travel times for cardiac care, obstetrics, intensive care and outpatient surgery.