Last year, the “Counties, Clinics and the Uninsured” statewide analysis of the health status of the uninsured ranked San Diego County dead last in California.
Despite the availability of programs like Medi-Cal and Healthy Families, more than one-quarter of county residents find themselves without access to a health care provider.
Some argue the problem is simply a result of San Diego’s close proximity to the U.S.-Mexico border, with many new immigrants working in low-wage jobs that do not offer health benefits.
Others say more outreach and education must be done to let residents know about public benefits they may already be entitled to.
Whatever the cause, it is clear that San Diego has a hole in its health-care safety net. Countless doctors and public health experts agree that this dilemma leads to delayed treatment of medical conditions, often worsening public health consequences, not to mention the crowding of hospital emergency rooms with primary health care visits.
– Program Directed At
Insurance For Workers
Locally, the county appears concerned about this pressing issue and proactive in their approach to resolving it. Earlier this year, the county introduced a program that aims to increase the ranks of workers with health insurance by 175,000.
The “Options Report” proposes a way for businesses that currently do not offer health insurance to begin a program at a reduced cost to them. The county would help offset costs by leveraging federal dollars and would use them for the local program.
The county program is a prime example of how the private sector and public agencies can work together to remedy important public health issues. Both businesses and government would pitch in to serve the needs of working people without health care insurance.
Over the past 35 years, there have been dozens of examples of private business and public agencies joining forces to better serve the public health needs throughout San Diego and California.
The commitment to increase access to care comes from within a health care organization. But no matter how dedicated a hospital or clinic staff is, they cannot go it alone. They must rely on their private sector partners to provide support and resources.
– Organizations Need
Professional Support
Health care organizations must enlist the services of qualified financial professionals to keep their organizations viable. If they don’t, they will be unable to continue to deliver services. It’s that simple. Health care organizations thrive and fail, and many of the problems stem from financial mismanagement or inability to forecast upcoming financial issues.
Most health care organizations have a clear mission, which can only be realized when the organization is fiscally sound, in compliance with laws and regulations and has systems in place to protect their assets from fraud or theft.
Let’s face it: Most professionals in the health care field chose their career path because they care deeply about people, not because they’re excited about generally accepted accounting principles. But without this integral part of the management equation, a hospital can find itself in jeopardy of closing.
Private business must also continue to support outreach programs and health fairs that target under-served populations.
– Educating The Public
About Healthy Families
Like many health care centers, the Family Health Centers of San Diego searched for creative ways to educate the public about the Healthy Families program when it was introduced two years ago. The plan provides low- or no-cost health insurance to California children and has the ability to significantly improve the quality of life in our state.
Rather than wait for patients to ask about the innovative program, Family Health Centers of San Diego hosted a series of health fairs to get the word out about the new program. Several of these received corporate sponsorship from local hospitals. As a result, this center has one of the highest enrollment rates in the county.
Vista Community Clinics is another example of a health care organization that works with the private sector to increase access to care.Funded by a local company, the clinics launched a program that educates residents about Health Families through informational brochures. The group also works with pharmacies and private doctors, as well as personnel departments of local companies.
Indeed San Diego has challenges in terms of creating broader access to health care services. But it also has a county Health Services Department that is committed to introducing programs that will mend the health care safety net.
It also has a business community that is unusually active in terms of creating partnerships with the nonprofit community. Through these partnerships, San Diego promises tremendous leadership for the future.
Saiz is a partner at Calderon, Jaham & Osborn Certified Public Accountants and Consultants of San Diego, which specializes in health care.
