Nationwide, Black patients who are admitted to the hospital experience disparities in pain management, patient communication, length of stay, and readmission rates. This disparity is seen at UCSF Health, where black inpatients have lower patient communication scores, higher lengths of stay in the hospital, and higher readmission rates than the rest of the patient population. In addition, there is limited engagement and input from community members in the care that hospitalized patients receive at UCSF Health.

The aim of this initiative is to improve care for Black inpatients by hiring Black community health workers to act as advocates who accompany Black patients during their health journey. These health advocates improve care for Black patients by elevating the patient voice, helping patients navigate the complex health system, and providing teaching for patients to help them advocate for themselves during hospitalization.