In recent years public health offices have suffered staff vacancies and budgetary cutbacks. Communities continue to rely on public health offices to be the provider of safety net services (e.g., immunizations, family planning, and disease case investigations). To strategically plan for optimal service delivery to vulnerable populations with diminished resources and avoid duplication of services, it's imperative for public health offices and community providers to be aware of the services each deliver. To address service capacity eleven public health offices in Southern New Mexico utilized an assessment tool to analyze the number and type of each clinical service delivered, community activity provided, and time spent on administrative and educational activities. The health offices then interviewed providers in their respective communities to identify gaps and duplication. Preliminary results indicate that there is a lack of awareness on the part of health offices and community providers as to the nature of services delivered. In some offices, the need to discontinue services due to duplication in the community and provide other services such as family planning for teens was identified. By undertaking this assessment, clinical service delivery needs and duplication were identified so that strategic planning with community partnerships is enhanced.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Community-Based Partnership, Public Health Nursing
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: New Mexico Department of Health/Public Health Division
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.