The TriCounty Community Health Center (Center) is a nurse-managed facility, which was established to increase health care access to underserved rural residents in Northwestern Illinois. As the number of uninsured Americans continues to grow, nursing centers play an essential role in meeting the health needs of this population. This is particularly apparent in rural areas, where the number of health care providers is largely disproportionate to those needing affordable services. Past studies have focused on the importance of health insurance coverage in determining perceived health status, with the uninsured consistently reporting their health status as poor. However, most studies have overlooked the potential impact of having a usual source of health care on perceived health status, regardless of health insurance coverage. This study will explore whether clients who report having a usual source of health care via the Center, will report a higher perceived health status, regardless of health insurance coverage, when compared to new clients who report no usual source of health care. The Center’s Client Satisfaction Survey was used to collect data related to health insurance coverage, perceived health status, and usual sources of health care. Preliminary findings suggest that health insurance coverage does not significantly impact perceived health status, for clients reporting the Center as its usual source of health care (N=149). Data will be collected from a second sample of clients this spring and final analysis completed this summer. Policy implications will focus on the impact nursing centers have on improving the nation’s health.
Learning Objectives: 1. Recognize how health insurance status and/or having a usual source of health care have influenced perceived health status in non-rural populations. 2. Identify how health insurance status and/or having a usual source of health care impacted perceived health status in this study population. 3. Articulate how findings can impact health care policy initiatives related to nursing centers.
Keywords: Nursing Center, Access to Health Care
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: TriCounty Community Health Center, Northern Illinois School of Nursing
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.