Primary Care in Utah

Purpose

Primary Care Offices (PCOs) work through a cooperative agreement with the Office of State and External Affairs, Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC), Bureau of Health Professions (BHPr), Health Resources and Services Administration, United States Department of Health and Human Services. The "sister" organization to the PCO is the Primary Care Association (PCA). In Utah, the PCA is the Association for Utah Community Health.

For general information on the Primary Care Office activities, you can review the "State Primary Care Office Fact Sheet".

PCOs are funded to:
• Improve primary care access of underserved and vulnerable populations
• To achieve the vision of 100% access to preventive and primary care services
• To achieve the vision of 0% health disparities in every community across the country.
• To enhance collaboration between the State, Federal, local and private sectors working to improve health status.


The PCO seeks to accomplish these tasks through the following activities/programs:



Primary Care Needs Assessment

The expectation to analyze unmet need for preventive and primary care services and major health disparities involves the identification of communities and populations within the state that lack access to primary and preventive care using health data and other information. In addressing this challenge, a set of Primary Care Needs Indicators was developed. Communities can use this information and other organizations to procure grant funds, for community development and planning, as well as other activities to address disparities.

It is clearly recognized that there are limitations to a data-only needs assessment. The second part of this project is underway and entails a qualitative Community Analysis (LINK PENDING COMPLETION OF COMMUNITY ANALYSIS). The community analysis consists of results of surveys and summaries of community focus groups that are collected on a county basis.

Health Professional Shortage Area Designations

The PCO is responsible for the preparation and submission of federally-designated shortage areas. Utah's Shortage Designations are updated on an on-going basis. More information is available from the federal Shortage Designation Branch.



Cultural Competency

Clearly, culturally and linguistically appropriate health services are essential ingredients in quality health care. Cultural and linguistic factors are crucial contributors to the development and delivery of quality care to all people. These factors are especially important in our pursuit of the total elimination of health disparities in ethnic and racial communities.

The PCO is responsible for the cultural competency and diversity training, through it's federal grant. You can obtain additional information on Cultural Competency and Diversity Resources by clicking on the Cultural Competency button to the left.


Training and Workshops

The Office offers:


• Community-Based Recruitment and Retention Training
• Cultural Competency Training
• Grant Writing Training
• Community Assessment Technical Assistance

State Primary Care Grants Program for Medically Underserved Populations

This state-funded program was created to increase access to appropriate, high quality, cost-effective primary health care. It targets Utah's low-income individuals and families who:


• Do not have health insurance
• Have limited health insurance
• Cannot qualify for public insurance
This often includes the working poor, chronically ill, homeless, migrant workers, ethnic/racial groups, single-parent families, and the elderly.

The program has been very successful, in that it has:


• Decreased emergency room use
• Improved health outcomes
• Reduced inpatient admission rates, and
• Lowered incidence of disease and disability


Your can also view a web page with more details on the State Primary Care Grants Program for Medically Underserved Populations by clicking to the left.



State Primary Care Grants Program FY 2008-2009 Applications

• For a copy of the State Fiscal Year 2008-2009 Application for the State Primary Care Grants Program for Medically Underserved Populations please CLICK HERE.



Applications are due to the Utah Dept. of Health
no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, MAY 16, 2008.

• A copy of the "Score Sheet and Criteria" for Review of Applications used by the State Primary Care Grants Program is available here for review.


• A copy of the "Defintions Used" by the State Primary Care Grants Program is part of the State Primary Care Grants Program Application and is available here. The "Definitions" will assist you in determining responses in the Application.


• A copy of the "Services to be Provided" table is part of the State Primary Care Grants Program Application. The "Services to be Provided" lists those primary care services recognized by the State Primary Care Grants Program.


• A copy of the "Determination of 200% of Federal Poverty Level" table is part of the State Primary Care Grants Program. The "Determination of 200% of Federal Poverty Level" table was developed annually by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and is used by the State Primary Care Grants Program for Medically Underserved Populations in determining eligible uninsured and underinsured status of clients.



For a copy of the forms section of the 2008-2009 Application are available here in "WORD", "WORD PERFECT", AND Adobe Acrobat.

For general information on the State Primary Care Grants Program for Medically Underserved Populations activities, you can review the State Primary Care Grants Program for Medically Underserved Populations Fact Sheet.

Cumulative Data, State Primary Care Grants Program for Medically Underserved Populations, as of 11/06/2006.

To view only Fiscal Year 2007-2008 Awards , for the State Primary Care Grants Program for Medically Underserved Populations please click above.

Fiscal Year 2007-2008 (FY 07-08)Progress Reports are cummulative and due to our office as follows:

NEW PROJECTS:
A copy of the 2007-2008 Progress Report for NEW Projects is available here in Adobe Acrobat, Rich Text, WordPerfect.

• Progress Report Covering the Period: October 1, 2007 through December 1, 2007.
       DUE: December 15, 2007,
  
• Progress Report Covering the Period: October 1, 2007 through January 31, 2008.
       DUE: February 15, 2008,
  
• Progress Report Covering the Period: October 1, 2007 through March 31, 2008.
       DUE: April 15, 2008, and
  
• Progress Report Covering the Period: October 1, 2007 through May 31, 2008.
       DUE: June 15, 2008, and
  
• Final Progress Report Covering the Period: October 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008.
       DUE: July 15, 2008.


CONTINUATION PROJECTS:
A copy of the 2007-2008 Progress Report for Continuation Projects is available here in Adobe Acrobat, Rich Text, WordPerfect.

• Progress Report Covering the Period: December 1, 2007 through January 31, 2008.
       DUE: February 15, 2008,
  
• Progress Report Covering the Period: December 1, 2007 through March 31, 2008.
       DUE: April 15, 2008, and
  
• Progress Report Covering the Period: December 1, 2007 through May 31, 2008.
       DUE: June 15, 2008, and
  
• Final Progress Report Covering the Period: December 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008.
       DUE: July 15, 2008.


Statute and Rule