CHIA
Description/Purpose/Mission:
Access to quality health care is important to
eliminate health disparities in our population, and
to increase quality and years of healthy life. The
Partnership for a Healthier Carroll intends to help
interested groups and individuals improve access to
health care for the uninsured and underinsured in
Carroll County. Approximately 15,000 to 20,000
Carroll residents are without health insurance a
growing number which includes the working poor,
minorities, undocumented residents, as well as those
who are uninsured by choice.
The Access to Health Care Work Group seeks to set
and achieve measurable goals to provide 100% access
to health care for underserved populations and
eliminate health disparities in our community.
Goals and Objectives:
The Access to Health Care Work Group has identified
local barriers to health care, set measurable
objectives, and created improvement strategies in
this area that ultimately affects all of us. From a
broader list of community issues in access, the Work
Group selected the following as focus priorities:
* Prescription medication,
* Health insurance,
* Service and provider options, and
* Transportation.
Accomplishments:
The workgroup is encouraging people in need of
assistance with prescriptions to use the many
resources available. A Prescription Medication
Resources List (PDF format) was also developed to
assist those with limited ability to pay.
The workgroup sponsors speakers at the monthly
meetings that address various programs that are
working to improve health insurance availability.
The Work Groups focus on service and provider
options identified limited community capacity for
primary care service to uninsured Carroll County
residents. Access Carroll (410-871-1478) a primary
care office in Westminster was established two years
ago (2005). The staff of Access Carroll has seen
more than 1,000 patients since it opened. They are
active members of the workgroup.
Mission of Mercy (410-857-4811) is also a member of
the workgroup. Mission of Mercy is a mobile medical
program that provides primary care. It was formed in
1994. They served more than 3,000 Carroll County
patients in 2006.
Access Carroll and Mission of Mercy are
collaborating to maximize services available to
address the access to health care issue in Carroll
County.
From August 2005 to August 2006 the workgroup
members assisted the Carroll County Planning Office
with completing a transportation survey in the
county. Results of the survey will be used when the
Transit Development Advisory Group makes
recommendations for the Carroll County
Transportation Plan.
Community Support/Partners:
Access Carroll and Mission of Mercy are still
seeking interested local physicians, nurses,
physicians assistants, and other professionals to
volunteer their services. Your help is needed to
meet the financial requirements for this project to
continue.
Contact information:
The Work Group meets regularly at 9:00 a.m. on the
second Wednesday of every month, at the Westminster
Senior Activities Center, 125 Stoner Avenue in
Westminster. Contact Barb Rodgers at
brodgers@dhmh.state.md.us to get involved.
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