|
Community2020-2024 Priorities
<br /> The results from secondary data, opinion surveys, and insurance, additional barriers include: 1)the concen-
<br /> the community input sessions allowed the identification tration of health care resources in the southern part of
<br /> of three priorities that will be addressed over the next the county, 2) inadequate transportation systems in the
<br /> four years. Those priority areas are 1) Access to Care, 2) central and northern part of the county, 3) language
<br /> Health Behaviors, and 3) Health Equity all of which are barriers, and 4) perceived discrimination (or racism)
<br /> detailed below. within health care facilities.
<br /> Access to Care Among survey responders:
<br /> Access to comprehensive, quality health care services • Over the past 12 months, 15% reported having a
<br /> is important for promoting and maintaining health, pre- problem getting needed health care for themselves
<br /> venting and managing disease, reducing unnecessary or a family member.
<br /> disability and premature death, and achieving health • 25%expressed having issues accessing health care,
<br /> equity for all. Health inequities are systemic differences including dental care.
<br /> in the health status of different populations and of-
<br /> ten exist due to cost and income status, access to the • 10% reported problems accessing health care be-
<br /> healthcare system and primary care physicians, employ- cause their deductible/co-pay was too high.
<br /> ment status, ethnicity, transportation, and preventative
<br /> health services. • 9% reported problems accessing health care because
<br /> their insurance did not cover what they (or their
<br /> Among survey responders: family member) needed.
<br /> • 28%of responders felt that access to care was an • 9% reported problems accessing health care because
<br /> issue, with concerns around cost and affordability, the wait (at health care facilities) was too long.
<br /> insurance coverage and hours of availability of care.
<br /> Among Focus Group responders:
<br /> Access to Health Care
<br /> • Karen and Burmese speaking focus group partici-
<br /> Access to health care means "the timely use of personal pants shared the lack of language services and inter-
<br /> health services to achieve the best health outcomes." preters that are available, in their language, when it
<br /> An individual's ability to access health care, including comes to health care facilities.
<br /> dental care, can be impacted by a variety of factors
<br /> such as; availability of services, high cost of care, lack of • Spanish speaking focus group participants shared
<br /> health coverage, and lack of culturally competent care. the lack of health information that is available in
<br /> The inequities around accessing care are often based on Spanish.
<br /> race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, age, sex, disability Access to Dental Care
<br /> status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and residen-
<br /> tial location. Individuals facing inequities often expe- Dental care is one of the nation's greatest unmet health
<br /> rience unmet health needs, delays in receiving appro- needs. Issues in oral health include availability of afford-
<br /> priate care, inability to get preventive services, financial able dental insurance, access to regular and preventive
<br /> burdens, and preventable hospitalizations.9 care, and population specific issues like children's dental
<br /> Orange County has a strong health care community that heath, increasing refugee population needs, and lan-
<br /> includes a nationally-ranked hospital system, an accred- guage barriers. According to the NC Department of
<br /> ited School of Public Health, a federally qualified health Health and Human Services, poor oral health can lead to
<br /> center, a local public health department, a medical and diseases and injuries of the skull and face. As a result,
<br /> dental school, and various private medical practices. public health has been focusing on improving oral
<br /> Even though Orange County has a physician rate of health by reducing disparities and expanding access to
<br /> 119.62 per 10,000 population, compared to the state rate effective preventative programs. Such efforts include
<br /> work around community water fluoridation, school
<br /> of 24, residents continue to report problems accessing dental sealant programs, baby and prenatal oral health
<br /> health care services. In addition to not having medical programs, and incorporating oral health programs into
<br /> 2019 COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT 7
<br />
|