Oral

Creating and implementing policies and programs that help women transcend limitations to adequate and appropriate health care is an important step in increasing overall women’s health. Presenters in this session will discuss collaboration with community agencies as a means of improving access to care for underserved populations. Structural factors in a universal health care system that shape women’s health will be explored, and the effects of female provider preference on screening rates among minority, low resource women will be discussed. Presenters will also address the possibility that gender provider preference may result from past discrimination and is associated with attitudes less favorable for health maintenance.

Session Objectives: 1. Identify strategies for increasing access to and integration of women’s health care services for diverse and underserved populations. 2. Identify key barriers to women’s access to quality health care. 3. List indicators of health care reform plans that are responsive to the needs of women and girls. 4. Articulate factors associated with female provider preference.

CE Credits: CME, Health Education (CHES), Nursing