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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Roberto Avitia, RN, MS¹, Patricia Alexander, RN, BSN², and Tristin Pham, RN, BSN¹. (1) County of Los Angeles, Department of Health Services, Public Health Department, Service Planning Area 3 - Monrovia Health Center, 330 W. Maple Ave, Monrovia, CA 91016, (626) 256-1647, ravitia@ladhs.org, (2) County of Los Angeles, Department of Health Services, Public Health Department, Service Planning Area 4 - Central Health Center, 241 N. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90012

One method to decrease health disparities and increase quality and years of healthy life for all persons in the United States (U.S.) is to improve access to quality health care services. Access to quality health care services helps ensure that vital health needs are met in a timely manner and that the benefits of preventive health services can be fully realized. However, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2002, over 40 million people remained uninsured. Healthy People 2010 recognizes access to quality health care services as a major health priority by identifying it as one of the 10 leading health indicators in our nation. In 2002, Los Angeles County Key Indicators of Health revealed that there were 1,755,000 uninsured persons in Los Angeles County; 1,459,000 were uninsured non-elderly adults (ages 18-64 years). Of those uninsured non-elderly adults, Latinos (40%) had the highest percentage compared to Asians/Pacific Islanders (21%), African-Americans (15%), and Whites (13%). In efforts to address this health disparity and increase access to quality health care in Los Angeles County, the Health Care Access Initiative (HCAI) Team was formed.

This presentation will demonstrate steps taken by the HCAI Team to: 1. Decrease barriers to access to quality health care in public health centers. 2. Empower our staff to address access to quality health care at the community level. 3. Collaborate with community partners to expand access to quality health care with culturally competent outreach activities. 4. Collaborate with community partners to expand health care services in the community.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Define access to quality health care.
• Describe three barriers to access to culturally competent quality health care.
• Identify two methods to improve access to quality health care in public health centers.
• Identify two methods to improve access to quality health care in the community setting.

Keywords: Access to Health Care, Access to Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation