Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #116552

James E. Bloyd, MPH¹, Bridgett T. Carter, BS¹, Jacqueline H. Marshall, MD², Elizabeth A. Bormann, MPH³, Steve Seweryn, MPH⁴, and Jessica Blazier, BA⁵. (1) Policy and Planning, Cook County Department of Public Health, 1010 Lake Street, Suite 300, Oak Park, IL 60301, 708-492-2019, jbloyd@cookcountygov.com, (2) Ambulatory and Comunity Health Network, Robbins Health Center of Cook County, 13450 S. Kedzie Av, Robbins, IL 60472, (3) Public Health and Health Education Programs, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, DeKalb, IL 60115, (4) Epidemiology, Cook County Department of Public Health, 1010 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL 60301, (5) University of Chicago Hospitals, 1441 S. Plymouth Court, Chicago, IL 60605

Objectives: Community leaders and the Cook County Department of Public Health assessed barriers to pediatric primary care in Ford Heights, Illinois, south of Chicago. Ford Heights is home to 3,500 people; 95% are Black, 2.5% are Hispanic; 29% are unemployed; 49% of the residents live below 100% of poverty. Anecdotal evidence and health data for the town led to concern that access to high-quality primary care was problematic. Community participation and leadership was an important goal in the assessment. Study Design: A random sample of parents/guardians of Ford Heights third and fourth grade students were interviewed in-person using Starfield's Primary Care Assessment Tool about the child's primary care experience. Residents of the town were trained to conduct the interviews, and a community coalition was formed. Parent/guardians of 100 third and fourth graders in the Ford Heights School District were interviewed. The survey measured aspects of primary care including first-contact care, longitudinality, comprehensiveness, and coordination of care. Three focus groups were also conducted. Results: 80% of parents reported their child's primary care was a particular doctor. Over 50% had been with that doctor five years or more. Over 70% would recommend the child's physician to a friend. Over 80% said they could change from their child's doctor if they wanted to. Conclusion: While this pilot may suggests that access to a Medical Home may be higher than expected, further study is needed to determine whether similar experiences are present in other municipalities or subpopulations within suburban Cook county.

Learning Objectives:

• 3. Identify 4 actions that promote community participation in piloting Starfield’s Primary Care Assessment Tool in a low-income African-American community.
  7. List potential sources of racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare experienced by African- American parents seeking primary care for their children.
  11. Apply concepts of First Contact, Person-Focused Care Over Time, Comprehensiveness, and Coordination in descriptions of adequacy of primary care as received by African-American children.
  15. Describe interventions to reduce and eliminate disparities in quality of primary care.

Keywords: African American, Primary Care

Related Web page: www.cookcountypublichealth.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation