Volume 47 | Number 1pt2 | February 2012

Abstract List

Erica S. Spatz, Michael S. Phipps, Oliver J. Wang, Suzanne Lagarde, Georgina I. Lucas, Leslie A. Curry, Marjorie S. Rosenthal


Objective

To describe core principles and processes in the implementation of a navigated care program to improve specialty care access for the uninsured.


Study Setting

Academic researchers, safety‐net providers, and specialty physicians, partnered with hospitals and advocates for the underserved to establish roject ccess‐ew aven (‐). ‐ expands access to specialty care for the uninsured and coordinates care through patient navigation.


Study Design

Case study to describe elements of implementation that may be relevant for other communities seeking to improve access for vulnerable populations.


Principal Findings

Implementation relied on the application of core principles from community‐based participatory research (). Effective partnerships were achieved by involving all stakeholders and by addressing barriers in each phase of development, including (1) assessment of the problem; (2) development of goals; (3) engagement of key stakeholders; (4) establishment of the research agenda; and (5) dissemination of research findings.


Conclusions

Including safety‐net providers, specialty physicians, hospitals, and community stakeholders in all steps of development allowed us to respond to potential barriers and implement a navigated care model for the uninsured. This process, whereby we integrated principles from , may be relevant for future capacity‐building efforts to accommodate the specialty care needs of other vulnerable populations.