Friday, May 09, 2003
Exploring Healthcare Quality and Effectiveness at Federally-Funded Community Health Centers: Results from the Patient Experience Evaluation Report System (1993-2001) Report from the National Association of Community Health Centers available at the
Open Minds web site - "This report presents the results of a major evaluation of the performance of federally-supported Community Health Centers. The findings presented here show that health centers furnish care of high quality, as measured not only by clinical health quality measures but also from patient information regarding their health care experiences. The data from which these findings have been drawn come from two point- in- time performance evaluations that permit comparison over time. The results of these studies indicate sustained and improved clinical care quality and patient satisfaction levels over a decade, even as health centers have experienced a significant growth in the proportion of uninsured and vulnerable patients they serve."
GAO Report on Child Placements Paints Bleak Picture of Systems Mental Health Weekly article at
Medscape - "A documented 12,700 children were placed in state child welfare systems or county juvenile justice systems in fiscal year 2001 for the sole reason that parents saw no other way to obtain needed mental health care for them, according to a report released last week by the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO). What's perhaps most shocking about these numbers is that they probably vastly underestimate the practices, because governments do not routinely track youths placed in agency systems for this reason." [Viewing
Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].
Health programs may take big hit in Maryland budget Baltimore Sun story - "The Ehrlich administration is considering a list of almost $160 million in possible cuts to health programs, including Medicaid and mental-health services, as part of its effort to deal with a mounting revenue shortfall. Critics say some of the possible cuts could hurt vulnerable patients and, in the long term, cost the state more money than they would save."
Child health costs similar for behavioral compared to physical disorders Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia press release on findings presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies meeting in Seattle - "Children with behavioral disorders incur similar overall health care costs to children with physical disorders. Among behavioral disorders, costs were not uniform; anxiety and depression cost twice as much as other common behavioral disorders, mainly as a result of inpatient hospitalizations."
State plans to consolidate homes for mentally retarded draws ire (Alabama) AP story at
al.com - "The state could save millions of dollars by consolidating centers for mentally retarded adults, an official said, but family members of residents said the savings would not offset the damages. Nearly 200 people gathered Thursday night to hear Kathy Sawyer, commissioner of the Alabama Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, discuss plans for the Albert P. Brewer Developmental Center in Daphne, home to 61 residents."
Court upholds ruling for mentally ill (Colorado) Denver Post story - "The Colorado Department of Human Services was properly found in contempt of court and fined $1.4 million for failing to provide needed housing and care for Denver's chronically mentally ill, the Colorado Court of Appeals ruled Thursday."
