Comprehensive health assessments to identify disparities and guide community capacity building in the aftermath of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill

The Gulf Region Health Outreach Program is a series of four integrated, five-year projects to strengthen healthcare in Gulf Coast communities in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle established in the aftermath of the Gulf of Mexico Oil spill. The target beneficiaries of the Outreach Program are residents, especially the uninsured and medically underserved, of 17 coastal counties and parishes in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi. The program includes capacity building in primary care as a foundation to increase the mental-, and environmental health expertise of health professionals in the Gulf and health literacy of local communities. A comprehensive assessment of community health needs and clinic capacity in the 17 counties was conducted to prioritize program activities. Results reveal unique differences and vulnerabilities among sub-populations along the Gulf Coast.