Potential of the Executive Order Increasing the Participation of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Federal Programs.

OBJECTIVES. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a program designed to reduce primary care treatment barriers for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs). Interpreters, home health visits, prevention education, cultural sensitivity trainings, and an AAPI phone line were provided to increase the utilization of primary care services at a rural community health center. METHODS. The number of primary care patients and infant immunization rates were measured from 1993& shy;1996. Emergency room visits were measured to assess the impact of primary care increases upon reducing inappropriate emergency room visits. Baseline frequencies and data from other ethnic populations were used as control measures. RESULTS. AAPI primary care patients increased by 87 percent, compared to a total population increases of less than 8 percent. Timely immunization rates for infants rose from 36 percent to 93 percent. Emergency room visits declined by 20 percent. CONCLUSIONS. Treatment barriers for primary care may be reduced for AAPIs if appropriate cultural considerations are addressed. Support for a link between primary care interventions and reduced emergency room utilization is suggested.