AI Article Synopsis
- Poor access to specialty care for uninsured adults leads to increased reliance on emergency departments and hospitals, potentially compromising the quality of health care.
- Project Access-New Haven (PA-NH) is a program designed to improve specialty care access by coordinating volunteer efforts from specialty physicians and hospitals, supported by patient navigators who help streamline administrative processes.
- Since its launch in August 2010, PA-NH has successfully connected 78 patients with over 200 volunteer physicians, achieving an average appointment wait time of just 17 days; further research is needed to evaluate potential cost savings from this initiative.
Article Abstract
Background: Poor access to specialty care among uninsured adults threatens the delivery of quality health care and may contribute to the misuse and overuse of emergency departments and hospitals.
Intervention: We sought to improve access to specialty care through a program called Project Access-New Haven (PA-NH),which engages specialty physicians and hospitals to volunteer in a coordinated-care model for the uninsured. Patient navigators guide patients through the health-care network and help to alleviate administrative obstacles.
Results: Project Access-New Haven has been operational since August 2010. With >200 specialty physicians volunteering and strong commitments from local hospitals, comprehensive specialty care has been provided to 78 patients. Average wait-time for appointments is 17 days.
Conclusion: PA-NH provides timely medical care and patient navigation foruninsured patientswith specialty-care needs. In the process, more physicians are participating in the care of vulnerable populations. Further data are needed to assess the potential cost-savings of PA-NH.
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