Accessing Healthcare

Directions

Select a vulnerable
population and a community-based program developed for this population. (Note:
You may use the same program you selected for week three’s discussion
forum.) In a three to four page paper,
Describe
the population and community-based program.

Intended
population(s) served

Location
of program (rural/urban)

Profit
or non-for-profit

Services
provided

Describe
two organizational barriers that limit vulnerable populations’ access to the
program.
Justify
how these items may be considered barriers to the population selected.
Examples
of barriers may include: location/hours of operation; availability of
providers; does not accept uninsured clients, clients with Medicare, or
Medicaid; private or public funding constraints; clients’ care is
uncoordinated, fragmented or has gaps; and lacks culturally sensitive care
(i.e. serves Spanish-speaking community, but information is only published in
English).

Provide
a strategy (one for each barrier) that could be used to reduce or eliminate the
barriers. Strategies must address the barrier.
Example:
Barrier- location/hours of operation Strategy: Move services or extend services
to meet population’s needs (i.e. open on the evenings and weekends)
Example:
Barrier- availability of providers Strategy: recruitment campaign to bring more
providers to the area or work with universities graduating healthcare workers
to provide internships
Example:
Barrier- Does not accept uninsured clients, clients with Medicare, or Medicaid
Strategy: Work with policy makers to improve conditions so accepting these
clients would not place a financial burden on the community program (healthcare
reform)
Example:
Barrier- Private or public funding constraints Strategy: Explore new
partnerships.
Example:
Barrier- Clients’ care is uncoordinated, fragmented or has gaps Strategy: Pull
together a group of representatives from various programs and develop
strategies to improve the continuum of care
Example:
Barrier- Lacking culturally sensitive care Strategy: Recruit healthcare
workers/ volunteers from the population served; locate the program within the
community, develop educational/informational materials that meet clients needs
(language, reading level, culturally sensitive, etc.)