The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #46632

Consuela D. Greene, BS¹, Ta'rese Gardner¹, Linda McClellan, MS², and Michelle Marrs, MS³. (1) Nashville REACH 2010 Project, Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center, 1501 Herman Street, Nashville, TN 37208, (615) 327-9400 x.483, consuela.greene@mwchc.org, (2) Project REACH 2010, Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Care Center, 1501 Herman Street, Nashville, TN 37208, (3) Executive Director, Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Care Center, 1501 Herman Street, Nashville, TN 37208

To improve the system of medical care for treatment of cardiovascular disease and diabetes for African Americans residing in North Nashville, the Nashville REACH 2010 project, Access to Health Care team, examined the effect of expanded access to primary care services. The overall goal of the Nashville REACH 2010 project is to reduce, and in time, eliminate diabetes and cardiovascular disease among African Americans in North Nashville. Previous studies have shown that North Nashville residents neglect health care because of medical services not available at a convenient hour. Due to inadequate availability of services at convenient times, several existing health care facilities extended their hours to increase access. Health care facilities were informed of barriers to accessing care in North Nashville through the development and usage of evaluation mechanisms. Collaboration was established to improve the system of accessing medical care. Various partners of the collaboration found it necessary to extend hours to accommodate the deficiency in accessing care. Upon agreement of extending clinic hours, several health facilities found an increase in patient flow and patient satisfaction. Therefore patients who would normally neglect attending to their health care needs, are taking advantage of the extended hour services offered to the community. The increase in availability of services through extended hours will lead to a sustainable systematic change definitively impacting and improving the accessibility of medical care and accomplishing the goal of Nashville REACH 2010, 100% access and 0% disparities.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to

• Identify and formulate plans that would offer expanded access to primary care services.
• Assess and evaluate the effectiveness of extended hours'.

Keywords: Access to Health Care, Community-Oriented Primary Care

Related Web page: 129.59.231.121/Reach/index.htm

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.