The challenge of care for the poor and underserved in the United States: an American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists perspective on access to care for underserved women

Article Abstract:

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) is concerned that access to adequate health care, prenatal care, pregnancy-related care, and reproductive care is not available to all women. Pregnant women, infants and adolescents are frequently left outside of the health care system. In 1988, almost 800,000 women lacked prenatal care during the first trimester (three months) of pregnancy. Substantial numbers lacked any care during their pregnancy, and others received substandard or inappropriate care. The problems are universal: no health insurance, inadequate insurance, adolescent pregnancy, inability to penetrate the government aid structure, bias and ignorance. ACOG supports and encourages plans that broaden the availability of health insurance coverage to all. Programs for adolescents should include health care, health education, social services and family support. The college supports, endorses and encourages family planning and contraception within the context of a general health environment. In addition to program improvements cited, maternal and child health programs should be expanded, both in terms of scope and availability. Abortion options should be the province and decision of the woman involved, and she should be provided with all the necessary information to make an informed and intelligent decision. ACOG advises that additional health care facilities, personnel, and financial support are necessary to bring these services to necessary levels. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Social policy, Poor women, Maternal health services, Child health services, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

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Serving the underserved: impact on resident education

Article Abstract:

The Ambulatory Pediatric Association (APA) approaches the problem of inadequate health care for children via the route of educational alternatives, that is, the education of pediatric residents. The proposed plan suggests short- and long-term objectives. The principal short-term issue is to develop a core curriculum of fundamentals, skills, and techniques unique for resident education. Residents would be able to identify the underserved and the barriers that prevent them from receiving adequate health care. They would be able to recognize the diseases specific and unique to underserved children, and would develop interpersonal skills, enabling them to listen to the nonclinical concerns of these children and their families. Programmatic and didactic content of such pediatric residency education would address community and environmental issues, specific aid programs and how to reach them, and provide an understanding of the health care structure as it is. These residency programs would necessitate the formation of multidisciplinary teams, who would be readily available to the inquiring resident staff. Instruction in nonclinical skills would enhance the ability of pediatric residents to provide for the total needs of underserved children. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Innovations, Education, Study and teaching, Residents (Medicine), Medical education, Ambulatory Pediatric Association

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Academic pediatrics and health of medically underserved children in America

Article Abstract:

Academic pediatricians should do more to improve the status of health care among the poor children. The university medical centers of the US are in an excellent position to address the public policy issues related to children's health, but as a whole academic medicine has demonstrated little leadership in the realm of public health. One Philadelphia, PA program has pediatric residents, medical students and nursing students work in the community. They teach health care in inner-city high school classes, make home visits to teenage mothers and organize pediatric care in housing projects and shelters for homeless and battered women. Students who participate in these types of programs will then have a greater an understanding of the special needs of the medically underserved as they do research or shape policy in their later careers.

Social aspects, Planning, Preventive medicine, Medicine, Preventive

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Health care for pregnant women and young children. Update on the American Academy of Pediatrics activities to achieve universal access to health care for all children

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