Access to health care has been and continues to be a problem in the United States for the medically indigent. This vulnerable population, the uninsured and underinsured, are less likely to be satisfied with the care they receive, their health status is poorer then the general population and they are less likely to engage in health promotion activities. In 1991, Kansas enacted a law to establish primary care services for the medically indigent. The purpose of this study was to evaluate how state funding provided to one local community influenced access to health care through the initiation of a community health center (CHC). The Aday, Anderson and Fleming (1980) Access Framework guided this descriptive study. The framework hypothesizes that health policy may affect directly the characteristics of the health care system and the system, in turn, may affect utilization patterns and satisfaction of consumers. This presentation will report on satisfaction of clients and utilization of health promotion activities by patients at one CHC. The primary care providers at the CHC studied were nurse practitioners. A cross-sectional survey of 150 clients was conducted at a CHC that received state funding. The survey assessed patient satisfaction, health status and health promotion activities. Data collection and analysis of the findings is expected to be completed June 2000. Outcome data of CHC patients will be compared with available state and national data. Research studies, such as this, have the potential to influence policies that affect availability and affordability of health care services.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participant in this session will be able to: 1. Recognize that access to health care remains a problem in the United States. 2. Identify the level of satisfaction and health status of patients at one Midwest Community Health Center. 3. Describe health outcomes at one Community Health Center staffed by nurse practitioners
Keywords: Outcomes Research, Nurse Practitioners
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
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.