Access to and affordability of primary and preventive services is crucial to a community’s health. Not only are those services that treat illness and injury vital, but those that promote health and well-being are also an important component of health in the community.

Access means that primary and preventive health care services are available and organized in a way that makes sense to individuals and families who use them. Additionally, access means that people have the resources, financial and non-financial needed to obtain and use available services.

Accessible health care includes an infrastructure supporting a range of health services with the capacity to reach diverse people and adapt to the specific access issues that differ in communities.

The impact that access to primary and preventive health services has on society is substantial. When individuals and groups lack access to primary and preventive health care, critical opportunities are lost for the promotion of healthy lifestyle behaviors and for early diagnosis and treatment of health problems.

Lack of access to care results in short and long term adverse health consequences, including: higher mortality rates and years of productive life lost, greater rates of more advanced and difficult to treat disease (e.g., heart disease, cancer and stroke), and increased rates of preventable disease (e.g., dental and osteoporosis). Inadequate access to health care services contributes to an overall poorer health status among the medically underserved (Lewis & Altman, 2000).

Indicators of access to care:

• Ability to pay for needed care.

• Insurance coverage.

• Availability of providers for medical, mental and dental health care.

• Transportation.

• Availability of child care.

• Ability to take time away from work to get care.

According to the United States Census Bureau:

• In 2005, 13% of Taylor County children were living in poverty.

In 2007, the Taylor County Health Department surveyed over 780 residents for their opinions on health conditions and health priorities that have an impact on their lives.

• They rated Access to Health Care and Other Services has the most important factor to define a “Healthy Taylor County.”

According to Taylor County Make Your Smile Count

• In 2005, only 2.5% of Taylor County Medicaid recipients received dental services.

Focus Areas: Affordable Primary and Preventive Health Programs and Services

Primary Goals:

• All Taylor County children will receive affordable dental care.

• All Taylor County women will have access to breast cancer screening services.

• All Taylor County parents, grandparents, and caregivers will have their children properly positioned in car seats as documented by Certified Car Seat Inspectors.

Baseline: New Initiative

OUTCOMES INCLUDE:

By December 31, 2009

• Assure private water supply testing for fluoride is available for Taylor County residents.

• Continue surveillance and interventions in schools to provide fluoride varnish and fluoride supplements.

• Establish a baseline for the number of Taylor County residents that presently have limited or no access to dental services.

By December 31, 2011

• Educate health care providers and the public about the need to test for fluoride in private water supplies prior to using fluoride supplements.

• Collaborate with dental providers and develop strategies to remove barriers to providing care to residents with limited access.

• Identify and develop specific strategies that target children and prenatal care clients.

• Identify and develop specific strategies to increase access for those on Medicaid and those without insurance.

By December 31, 2013

• Implement and promote specific strategies that target children and prenatal care clients.

• Implement and promote specific strategies to increase access for those on Medicaid and those without insurance.

• Identify opportunities and develop strategies to increase the number of dental students providing services in Taylor County.

• Identify opportunities and develop strategies to increase the number of portable dental chairs for use in Taylor County schools.

Baseline: Between 2003 and 2007 an average of 43.4 women were enrolled in the Wisconsin Well Woman Program.

OUTCOMES INCLUDE:

By December 31, 2009:

• Educate the community and promote available breast cancer screening services and procedures.

• Continue to provide and expand outreach for the Wisconsin Well Woman Program (WWWP).

By December 31, 2011:

• Determine barriers to access for Taylor County residents needing mammography services.

• Establish a baseline to determine the number of sites that offer mammography services for Taylor County residents.

By December 31, 2013:

• Increase the number of sites that offer mammography services for Taylor County residents.

• Increase the number of sites that offer mammography services outside of regular clinic hours.

Baseline: Between 2003-2007, the Taylor County Health Department conducted an average of 37 car seat checks per year.

OUTCOMES INCLUDE:

By December 31, 2009:

• Establish a baseline of the number of child car seat safety events and the number of car seats checked each year by Certified Car Seat Inspectors.

• Identify and develop strategies, targeting parents, grandparents, and caregivers, to increase the number of Taylor County residents that demonstrate appropriate child car safety seat use.

By December 31, 2011:

• Identify and develop programs to reduce recalled and compromised car seats in use in Taylor County.

• Identify and develop programs targeting worksites to provide opportunities for car seat checks.

• Identify and develop programs to educate the public on the dangers of selling and buying used car seats at rummage sales, garage sales, flea markets, etc..

By December 31, 2013:

• Implement and promote programs to reduce recalled and compromised car seats in use in Taylor County.

• Implement and promote programs targeting worksites to provide opportunities for car seat checks.

• Implement and promote programs to educate the public on the dangers of selling and buying used car seats at rummage sales, garage sales, flea markets, etc..

• Secure funding for training Certified Car Seat Inspectors.

• Increase the number of Certified Car Seat Inspectors.

• Secure funding to provide car seats for Taylor County residents for reduced costs.

• Survey rummage sales, garage sales, and flea markets, etc., to purchase old car seats to remove them for use by the public.

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