Access to Health Care Access to health services is one of Healthy People 2020’s Leading Health Indicators, and its goal is to improve access to comprehensive, quality health care services. Objectives related to this goal include: • • • •
Increase the proportion of persons with a usual primary care provider (AHS-3) Increase the number of practicing primary care providers (AHS-4) Increase the proportion of persons who have a specific source of ongoing care (AHS-5) Reduce the proportion of individuals who are unable to obtain, or delay in obtaining, necessary medical care, dental care, or prescription medicines (AHS-6)3
Disparities in access to health services directly affect quality of life and are impacted by having health insurance and ongoing sources of primary care. Individuals who have a medical home tend to receive preventive health care services, are better able to manage chronic disease conditions, and decrease Emergency Room visits for primary care services.4 Health Staffing Shortages and Designations
Health Professional Shortage Areas (Health Resources and Services Administration, http://muafind.hrsa.gov and http://hpsafind.hrsa.gov, accessed August 18, 2012)
Geography
MUA
MUP
Floyd County
Floyd Service Area
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Health Professional Shortage Area Primary Care Mental Dental HPSA HPSA Health HPSA Low IncomeNew River Valley Floyd Floyd Service Area Floyd
3
US Department of Health & Human Services, Healthy People 2020, Topics and Objectives, www.healthypeople.gov 4 Closing the Divide: How Medical Homes Promote Equity in Health Care: Results from the Commonwealth Fund 2006 Health Care Quality Survey, Volume 62, June 27, 2007
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