Partnerships for health: Addressing culture and access in rural and urban settings

·        Community and Target Population:
The RUAH project was designed to address the health, human and social service needs of the un and underinsured populations in eight rural counties in Central Indiana.  These areas are all experiencing high unemployment rates, job growth in the service and agricultural sectors, a large increase in the Hispanic population, and high rates of death from preventable diseases.  As a result, there are very few resources available to help the un and underinsured navigate the complex health care system.  Low-level of reading comprehension, and increasing pharmaceutical costs are also barriers for this population in Central Indiana. 

·        Partners Collaborating on the RUAH Project:

The Partner Group collaborating in this effort included St.Vincent Health Systems, Indiana Health Centers, Advantage Health Solutions, Health and Hospitals Corp., and Butler School of Pharmacy.  The collective efforts and interest in the development of a community system of care that can serve as a model to be adapted to meet the needs of other rural areas throughout the state of Indiana became the focus of this group.

·        Original goals of the RUAH Project:

The goal of the RUAH project is to create a comprehensive, integrated delivery network of health, human and social services that will connect the vulnerable populations in rural Indiana with services and resources.  Specifically, RUAH project will:

·        Assure a continuum of quality health and health-related services to the un and underinsured population at community-based primary care sites.

·        Improve the ability of providers to address the cultural and linguistic issues occurring due to a fast growing Hispanic population.

·        Provide access to free or reduced cost prescription drugs for the un and underinsured.

·         Services the RUAH Project Supports:

o       Case management staff is employed to identify un and underinsured persons; assess and document their current family situation, make referrals to area resources, accessing a primary care home, assist as needed in accessing area social services.   Assist as needed in various linguistic needs. 

o       Assessment and coordination of continued efforts to address Cultural Diversity and Linguistic programs to identify strengths and create a high quality systematic program to meet the needs of the growing Hispanic and indigent populations. 

o       Assess the existing pharmacy practices of each of the participating providers, identify best practices and provide assistance in adapting, implementing, and facilitating a pharmacy program in order to obtain free or low cost prescription drugs from pharmaceutical manufactures. 

·        Origional Projected Results:

o       Un and underinsured patients will be identified and linked to appropriate services.

o       Reduction in inappropriate ER utilization and time needed in delivery of services.

o       Improve providers ability to deliver services to indigent and Hispanic patients and clients.

o       Improve patient access to prescribed drugs, resulting in an impact on the effectiveness of clinical care and improve the health status of target populations.