Rust George, Melbourne Mollie, Truman Benedict I, Daniels Elvan, Fry-Johnson Yvonne, Curtin Thomas
National Center for Primary Care, Morehouse School of Medicine, 720 Westview Dr, Atlanta, GA 30310, USA.
Am J Public Health. 2009 Oct;99 Suppl 2(Suppl 2):S316-23. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2009.161125.
An influenza pandemic would have a disproportionately adverse impact on minority populations, the poor, the uninsured, and those living in underserved communities. Primary care practices serving the underserved would face special challenges in an influenza pandemic. Although not a formalized system, components of the primary care safety net include federally qualified health centers, public hospital clinics, volunteer or free clinics, and some local public health units. In the event of an influenza pandemic, the primary care safety net is needed to treat vulnerable populations and to provide health care surge capacity to prevent the overwhelming of hospital emergency departments. We examined the strength, capacity, and preparedness of key components of the primary care safety net in responding to pandemic influenza.
流感大流行会对少数族裔、贫困人口、未参保人群以及生活在服务欠缺社区的人们产生尤为严重的不利影响。为服务欠缺人群提供服务的基层医疗服务机构在流感大流行期间将面临特殊挑战。基层医疗安全网虽不是一个正式的体系，但其组成部分包括联邦合格健康中心、公立医院诊所、志愿者或免费诊所，以及一些地方公共卫生单位。在流感大流行时，需要基层医疗安全网来治疗脆弱人群，并提供医疗服务应急能力，以防止医院急诊科不堪重负。我们研究了基层医疗安全网的关键组成部分在应对流感大流行方面的实力、能力和准备情况。
