What's New | November 07, 2012

Health Care for Underserved Populations

Individuals that lack adequate health insurance, are low-income, or reside in rural areas often cannot access preventive and primary care services and do not have a regular source of care. As a result, health problems may go undiagnosed and/or untreated, increasing the long-term risk of serious illness and death among the medically underserved.

The featured Innovations describe three programs that provided medical care and patient education to persons with limited means of accessing such services, thereby improving their health status and facilitating access to follow up care.

The featured QualityTools provide information and resources that address disparities in medically underserved communities.

Featured Innovations:

• Medical Student–Run Primary Care Clinic Offers Valuable Training to Future Physicians and Enhances Access to Care for Low-Income Patients

• Mobile Outreach Program Enhances Access to Culturally Competent Dental, Mental, and Physical Health Care Services for Underserved, Uninsured Immigrants
with Expert Commentary

• Nurses Provide Free Health and Safety Screenings on Farms, Leading to Better Eating Habits and Cholesterol Levels, and to High Attendance at Followup Appointments

Featured QualityTools:

• Intercultural Cancer Council (ICC): Cancer Fact Sheets
Developed by Intercultural Cancer Council

• Migrant Clinicians Network Toolbox and Resources
Developed by Migrant Clinicians Network

• Rural Veteran Outreach Toolkit
Developed by Veterans Rural Health Resource Center

Featured Articles:

• Challenges Facing Rural Health Care: A Conversation With Brock Slabach, Senior Vice President for Member Services at the National Rural Health Association

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Also in This Issue:

Innovations >

• Care Management Protocols and User-Friendly Forms Embedded in Electronic Medical Record Improve Documentation, Coding Accuracy, and Readability of Visit Notes

• Collaborative Medication Reconciliation Significantly Reduces Errors and Readmissions in Patients Discharged to Nursing Homes

QualityTools >

• Health Impact Assessment: A Practical Guide
Developed by University of New South Wales

• Partnering to Heal: Teaming up Against Health Care–Associated Infections
Developed by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services