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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Morgan Fitzpatrick, Caroline Sison, and Denise Gallegos-Milosevich. Department of Health Education, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Ave, HSS 326, San Francisco, CA 94132, (415) 338 - 1413, missmorganfitzpatrick@yahoo.com

Emerging literature suggests that nurse-managed clinics (NMCs) such as Valencia Health Services (VHS) are a vital asset in underserved communities to deliver healthcare and promote health education. However, they seldom develop long-term financial strategies to remain viable. In hopes of increasing recruitment and ultimately diversifying revenue for VHS, short face-to-face surveys were developed to evaluate privately insured patients' motivations to seek care at the clinic. Conclusions from the assessment include: identifying major referral sources, patient preference to seeing a medical doctor versus a nurse practitioner, the lack of specificity of services in public and insurance company listings, the identification of missed opportunities for revenue and appreciation by patients for the VHS environment, particularly cultural competency demonstrated by staff. The results of the assessment, in conjunction with findings from a separately commissioned financial consultant, will supplement a business plan that will assist in long-term fiscal sustainability for VHS.

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

• Identify financial barriers that nurse-managed community clinics encounter when delivering healthcare in underserved communities
• Understand the importance of cultural competency and how it relates to the quality of care and fiscal sustainability
• Apply the fiscal lessons learned from our assessment to other nurse-managed community clinics
• Identify outreach and recruitment strategies to diversify patient clientele in nurse-managed community clinics

Keywords: Nurse Managed Centers, Sustainability

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation