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Boston-based Massachusetts General Hospital's Disparities Solutions Center has created a guide to help hospital administrators address care disparities, the Bay State Banner reports. Supported by a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grant, Improving Quality and Achieving Equity: A Guide for Hospital Leaders was released on December 18, 2008, and has since been downloaded by more than 500 medical professionals in the United States and Canada. Specifically, the guide highlights evidence of racial and ethnic disparities in the health care setting and provides reasons, such as the impact care inequalities may have on patient satisfaction, for addressing them. To provide administrators a blueprint for mitigating care disparities, the guide also highlights model practices for addressing inequities and recommends strategies and resources that may help hospital leaders initiate an agenda for change. The guide is based on an analysis of peer-reviewed literature, interviews with hospital leaders and case studies of innovative approaches at hospitals that have successfully addressed care disparities in their own facilities. In addition, the guide includes recommendations for developing an action portfolio to improve quality, address disparities and achieve equity, as well as a resources section populated with links to more information on addressing disparities and encouraging equitable care (de Oliveira, Bay State Banner, 1/22/09; MGH release, 12/19/08; Improving Quality and Achieving Equity: A Guide for Hospital Leaders Web site, accessed 1/22/09).