The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #38750

Katherine L. Kaiser, PhD, RN, CS¹, Teresa L. Barry, MSN, RNC¹, and Patricia Lopez, MSN, RN². (1) College of Nursing, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985330 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5330, 402-559-6576, kkaiser@unmc.edu, (2) Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department, 3140 N Street, Lincoln, NE 68510

Understanding population health status, as an indicator of the public’s health, is a critical component in delivering public health and clinical services to vulnerable populations, such as those who receive Medicaid managed care (MMC) benefits. The purpose of this presentation is to provide data regarding population health status from Nebraska’s MMC program in order to further understanding of the health needs and burden of illness of low income populations generally, and sub-populations such as those with disabilities or specific medical conditions. Each MMC client in Nebraska receives a public health nursing (PHN) health assessment intervention when enrolling into managed care that is repeated yearly if clients retain MMC benefits. As a part of this health assessment, clients 19 years of age and older complete the HSQ-12 (SF-12) health status questionnaire. These data, and other health assessment and demographic data, are aggregated and analyzed in order to better manage population health outcomes within the program using a variety of PHN intervention strategies such as advocacy, case management, education, and policy development. Results presented will focus on the aggregated population health status questionnaire scores and their correlation with other variables such as geographic location, demographics, social support and clinical conditions. Implications include how population health status helps direct public health and clinical intervention, policy development, further population-focused research, and theory development.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe patterns of perceived health status of a vulnerable low income population.
• Discuss implications of a vulnerable population's perceived health status for public health nursing and clinical intervention, policy development, research and theory development.

Keywords: Public Health Nursing, Population

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Nebraska Health and Human Services System, Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Interagency Contract