1996 Health Status Survey : Health Care Access and Utilization /
Creator
Utah. Office of Public Health Data; Utah. Bureau of Surveillance and Analysis;
Subject.MeSH
Primary Health Care; Public Health; Insurance, Health; Health Services; Health Status; Utah; Insurance Coverage; Health Services Accessibility; Health Surveys; Statistics; Health Services Needs and Demand;
Subject.LCSH
Primary health care; Public health; Insurance, Health; Health services accessibility; Health surveys; Medical care -- Needs assessment;
Description
Assuring access to health care has been defined by the Institute of Medicine as one of the key
functions of government in public health1. In addition to the ability to access medical care for an acute
medical problem, having a primary health care provider, or a “medical home” is also believed to promote
health. A person’s primary provider has access to his or her medical records, and is able to provide higher
quality care by considering the medical and social context of a problem or condition. Routine preventive
health visits are another way to promote health in the population. Preventive screening tests, such as Pap
smear and blood pressure testing, can detect problems early, often while they are curable. Routine preventive
visits also provide an opportunity for doctors to communicate with patients about healthy lifestyle
choices.
