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

Abstract #66816

Sanu Somachandran, MPH¹, Jay Jezierski, MPH¹, James N Burdine, Dr PH¹, Monica L. Wendel, MA, MPH¹, Julie Ann Parrish, MA², Coleman Chandler, MPH², Rachel Annette Summers², and Michael R.J. Felix³. (1) Community Health Development Program, School of Rural Public Health, Texas A&M University, 1103 University Drive, Suite 100, College Station, TX 77840, (979) 862-4350, sanu@srph.tamushsc.edu, (2) School of Rural Public Health, Texas A&M University System, 1103 University Drive, Suite 100, College Station, TX 77840, (3) Michael Felix and Associates, Walburt Ave, Allentown, PA 77802

Amid the current healthcare budget cuts and foreseeable funding crisis, local organizations are being forced to pursue innovative ways to handle business in both continuing already established services and in expanding to new activities. How can healthcare delivery be improved when monetary means of providing care are dwindling? This abstract examines how one community initiative addresses this issue. The Brazos Valley Health Partnership (BVHP) is a collaboration of service providers, community leaders, and residents of the Brazos Valley, working towards improving the system of accessing services in the six rural counties of the region. Presently, the BVHP is focused on the development of an integrated support center in one of the rural counties that, if deemed successful, can be replicated to the other five counties. One of the biggest challenges faced by the BVHP is the funding of the development of such a site. While searching for start-up funds was one of the first steps taken, the Partnership emphasizes the advantage of utilizing existing resources (reallocation) in terms of making the project more sustainable. By drawing on agencies that are looking for space and opportunity to expand; utilizing the need for the local medical residency program to open up to surrounding areas; providing a venue for the students of the newly instituted public health school to gain experience; finding wealth in donations and volunteers; and crafting other creative solutions, the Partnership is finding the funding issue to be one that is motivating rather than discouraging.

Learning Objectives:

• By the end of this presentation, attendees will be able to:
• 1)List at least five methods of identifying resources to assist healthcare funding needs.
• 2)Describe reasons why relying solely on the weight of grants can be detrimental to sustainability of local initiatives.
• 3)Define the strategy in creating partnerships with sufficient local support to collectively address challenges that arise as the result of changes anticipated in the national healthcare environment.

Keywords: Funding, Access to Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.