274340 Caring for their Communities: How Safety Net Health Systems Address Immigrant Health Care

Monday, October 29, 2012 : 2:30 PM - 2:50 PM

Ricky Harrison, MPA, MS , Research, National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems & National Public Health and Hospital Institute, Washington, DC
Linda Cummings, PhD , Research, National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems & National Public Health and Hospital Institute, Washington, DC
Safety net hospitals and health systems care for millions of immigrant patients each year. For example, the members of the National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems (NAPH), that includes major safety net organizations across the country, care for patient populations who speak over 100 languages. This session will cover how safety net providers will continue to care for immigrant patients, both documented and undocumented, as health reform is implemented. The session will address the structural challenges of building a comprehensive focus on population health in communities that include large numbers of immigrants while ensuring patient-centered, quality care.

Learning Areas:
Diversity and culture
Provision of health care to the public

Learning Objectives:
Inform audiences about the continued need for safety net health systems post-reform through a focus on the immigrant population. Consider challenges for safety net hospitals and health systems around building a focus on population health and patient centered care.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am responsible for NAPH’s research portfolio around quality and performance improvement, innovations in patient care, and health disparities. I am the principal investigator currently on two studies of integrated care in safety net health systems including a focus on health reform implementation.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.