Determining areas of the United States most in need of resources to improve health status is critical for federal programs such as the National Health Service Corps and the Community and Migrant Health Centers program. Typically, communities or areas "in need" are designated based on demographics and indicators of access, and mortality. Resources are allocated with the hope of achieving improved access and better health outcomes. The relationship between functional health status – as measured by the SF-12, a tested instrument for capturing health outcomes – to the indicators used to determine Health Professional Shortage Areas and Medically Underserved Areas will be described based on an analysis conducted by the authors. Based on this analysis, a role for functional health status measures in the federal need designation process, or in monitoring health outcomes of underserved communities will be proposed. The limitations and strengths of this proposal will also be discussed.
Learning Objectives: At the close of this session, participants will be able to describe a relationship between functional health status measures and the indicators used to secure federal shortage designations. Participants will also have considered the strenghts and limitations of incorporating health status measures in this designation process
Keywords: Outcome Measures, Indicators
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.