The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #69930

Benjamin H. Flores, MPH, Bureau of Primary Health Care, Health Resources and Services Administration, DHHS, 4350 East West Highway, 7th Floor, Bethesda, MD 20814, 301-594-4160, BFlores@hrsa.gov, Amy M. Taylor, MD, MHS, Health Care for the Homeless Branch/Bureau of Primary Health Care, Health Resources and Services Administration, 4350 East West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814, and Jean L. Hochron, Office of Minority and Special Populations, Bureau of Primary Health Care/DHHS, 4350 East West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814.

This presentation analyzes trends in racial/ethnic and economic characteristics of the medically underserved and describes how quality primary health care services are provided to special populations of homeless people, persons in public housing, the elderly, students in schools and migrant and seasonal farmworkers. The HRSA, Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC) is working to increase access to comprehensive primary health care for underserved persons. Among all health center patients, the most frequent health related encounters of selected diagnoses were hypertension, diabetes, mental health conditions, asthma, heart disease, and bronchial emphysema. Mental health and substance abuse problems included depression, anxiety, alcohol dependency, and drug dependency. This presentation describes the issues unique to special population programs and exemplars of successful Health Centers’ programs. The unique issues include co-occurring disorders, and extreme poverty of homeless people, frequent mobility, lack of continuity of care due to frequent relocation, language barriers and exposure to the elements and pesticides for migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their families. Approaches to essential services for special populations are described such as continuity of care, adjusting services to account for peak and off peak seasons or during holidays and summers, networks of services and access to specialty care, and providing linguistically and culturally appropriate services. How these essential services for special populations are provided while complying with all statutory requirements for health centers is described.

Learning Objectives:

• · Analyze characteristics of Consolidated Health Centers and their effect on the delivery of quality health care to underserved populations in the community setting;
• · Analyze issues and partnerships affecting the delivery of quality community-based primary health care;
• · Describe effective community-based health programs and activities for prevention and disease management that affect patient and families behaviors and lifestyles; and
• · Describe effective programs and activities that are improving the delivery of care in many of our nation's communities

Keywords: Access to Health Care, Primary Care

Related Web page: www.hrsa.gov

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: HHS, HRSA, Bureau of Primary Health Care
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.