Role of the Primary Care Safety Net in Pandemic Influenza.

• Autores: George S. Rust, Mollie Melbourne, Benedict I. Truman, Elvan Daniels, Yvonne Fry-Johnson, Thomas Curtin
• Localización: American journal of public health, ISSN 0090-0036, Vol. 99, Nº. 0, 2009, págs. 316-323
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • An influenza pandemic would have a disproportionately adverse impact on minority populations, the poor, the uninsured, and those living in underserved communities. Primary care practices serving the under-served would face special challenges in an influenza pandemic. Although not a formalized system, components of the primary care safety net include federally qualified health centers, public hospital clinics, volunteer or free clinics, and some local public health units. In the event of an influenza pandemic, the primary care safety net is needed to treat vulnerable populations and to provide health care surge capacity to prevent the overwhelming of hospital emergency departments. We examined the strength, capacity, and preparedness of key components of the primary care safety net in responding to pandemic influenza. (Am J Public Health. 2009;99: S316-S323. doi:10.2105/ AJPH.2009.161125) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]