Oral

Efforts to mitigate the prevalence of childhood health problems such as asthma and obesity must utilize a comprehensive socio-ecological approach which encompasses an amalgam of perspectives, expertise, and strategies. By applying data from public health research, the 2000 US census, and other sources, advocates have taken key steps in mitigating the effects of these diseases affecting children. Topics in this session include assessing health quality improvement in an asthma initiative’s one year follow-up, developing a performance scorecard for continued performance refining in pediatrics, exploring potential geographic factors that may contribute to poor childhood health, and identifying communities where the combination of health professional shortages and transportation barriers contribute to missed opportunities for children to obtain healthcare.

Session Objectives: Identify effective advocacy strategies of community programs for policies related to childhood obesity prevention and asthma management. Evaluate differences in access to health care among rural and urban dwelling children receiving Medicaid. Discuss possible solutions for increasing access to and utilization of medical and dental services in urban and rural environments.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH)