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Health Care
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Understanding Access to Health Services
Access to health services encompasses four components: coverage, services, timeliness, and workforce. (Health Book 6)" -
Coverage
Health insurance coverage helps patients get into the health
care system. Uninsured people are:
• Less likely to receive medical care
• More likely to die early
• More likely to have poor health status
Lack of adequate coverage makes it difficult for people to get
the health care they need and, when they do get care, burdens
them with large medical bills. (Health Book 6)" -
Services
Having a primary care provider (PCP) as the usual source of
care is especially important. PCPs can develop meaningful
and sustained relationships with patients and provide integrated
services while practicing in the context of family and
community. Having a usual PCP is associated with:
• Greater patient trust in the provider
• Good patient-provider communication
• Increased likelihood that patients receive appropriate care (Health Book 7)" -
Timeliness
Timeliness is the health care system's ability to provide health
care quickly after a need is recognized. Measures of timeliness
include the time spent waiting in doctors' offices and emergency
departments (EDs) and the time between identifying a
need for specific tests and treatments and actually receiving (Health Book 7)" -
Why Is Access to Health Services Important?
Access to health services means the timely use of personal
health services to achieve the best health outcomes. It requires
3 distinct steps:
1. Gaining entry into the health care system.
2. Accessing a health care location where needed services are
provided.
3. Finding a healthcare provider with whom the patient can
communicate and trust. (Health Book 5)"