City links health services
City links health services Recent changes in welfare and managed care programs resulted in a high number of uninsured residents in The Bronx, N.Y. In addition, 78 percent of the borough’s 1.2 million residents are minorities, and linguistic and cultural differences frequently created barriers to quality health care for them.
To ensure that all residents receive proper health care, the Borough President’s Office has spearheaded the development of community-wide health programs. To assess the health needs of the Bronx community, the Bronx Health Link (BHL) – a partnership of four local hospitals and the president’s office – conducted a survey of 10,000 households. Based on the results of the survey, BHL formed four task groups targeted at specific health concerns.
* The Heart Healthy Task Group creates awareness about heart disease. Residents can receive free blood pressure screenings and glucose tests at the participating hospitals; those with problems will be called for follow-up appointments. * The Teen Services Task Group published a newsletter with information on teen pregnancy. It will hold annual symposiums on health issues for teens, parents and health service providers. * The Domestic Violence Task Group creates awareness about domestic counseling services, and published a newsletter with information on issues, services and conferences related to domestic violence and child abuse. * The Access and Awareness Task Group produced a resource directory with information on services and programs on topics from AIDS to mental health. The group also holds “Health Days” to perform free health analyses and hand out information to attendees.
BHL, which was formed in September 1997, funded the task force programs with donations from the Borough President’s Office ($27,552) and the four area hospitals, which donated $35,000 each. Since the partnership began, more than 140 volunteer community organizations have joined the BHL to provide services and participate in official programs.
