Implementing Technologies for Im

This project seeks to evaluate the implementation of strategies for improving access to health services in the region serviced by the Southeast Texas Health System (STHS) and its Gulf Bend Access Partners (GBAP). The three objectives pursued by these organizations include; improving access to behavioral health services, increased chronic disease management, and increased use of health information technology by health providers. The US Census Bureau (2000) reveals the Gulf Bend area generally has an older and poorer population than the rest of the state of Texas. Current estimates show nearly 30 percent of the area’s population is uninsured. At the same time, a significant portion of physician and hospital revenues are derived from Medicare and Medicaid. These conditions have a serious impact on many providers and organizations associated with Gulf Bend Access Partners.

The study draws information from administrators, primary care providers, other health care and behavior health professionals to assess initial conditions relative to the three objectives noted above and assessing months later in the project the degree to which conditions have changed relative to these objectives. Surveys will be conducted with these leaders and professionals in hospitals, emergency rooms, rural health clinics, a behavioral health organization, and a United Way in the region. The project also assists STHS and GBAP in the development of methods for collecting or reporting baseline data on a) health care utilization and health care management associated with the three objectives, b) financial information the governmental and not-for-profit hospitals that might affect or be impacted by progress on the three objectives, and c) current conditions and perspectives on services to the uninsured, managed care, chronic care management, and adoption of information technologies. Data gathered from the study may be used by the participating organizations to assess and improve the quality of care provided to patients, to increase disease management activities, to consider strategies for better meeting the needs of the uninsured, and/or to give more rigorous consideration to the adoption of information technologies that might contribute to practice effectiveness related to these and other objectives.