Hospital emergency rooms function as the nation’s health care safety net, a last resort for the uninsured, once all other outpatient sources for acute and chronic care have been exhausted. Yet, ERs are the most costly and least appropriate option for delivering primary and preventive care to the uninsured. Nationally safety net health care clinics for the uninsured offer a more effective, less expensive alternative and are organized into the following three groups:

Federally Funded Health Centers
Health centers are community-based and patient-driven organizations that serve populations with limited access to health care. These include low-income populations, the uninsured, and those with limited English proficiency. Federally funded community health centers served over 18 million people last year. Some health centers also receive specific government funding to focus on certain special populations: migrant and seasonal farm workers; individuals and families experiencing homelessness; those living in public housing; Native Hawaiians.

One of the characteristics of a culture is language, and the culture of health care is no exception. Many times we might think we understand terms that have specific meaning in a health care system, but, sometimes this is confounding.

Families USA, a non-profit organization working to expand health care coverage, has written an excellent glossary that explains and illuminates health care related terms. They have been kind enough to share it with other organizations working toward similar goals.

If you are planning to organize and carryout any advocacy activities, the use of this glossary will expedite your work. If you download and use the glossary, please be certain that Families USA is credited as the original source.

To access Families USA Glossary of Health Care Terms, click on the box on the top right side of the http://www.health-ministries.org website home page under "If You Are New to this Site."

 WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Obama on Thursday called for a comprehensive overhaul of the U.S. health care system, warning that soaring medical costs present "one of the greatest threats not just to the well-being of our families ... but to the very foundation of our economy."

 An estimated 4 million Americans have lost their health insurance since the recession began, and as many as 14,000 people could be losing their health coverage every day, according to a report by liberal think tank Center for American Progress' Action Fund.

 (CNN) -- The perception is that 20-somethings are youthful and robust, in the peak of their health.  But a report released Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that young adults have their fair share of health woes.

A third of 18- to 29-year-olds, a demographic the insurance industry calls "young invincibles," are cigarette smokers. A quarter are obese, as the rates among young adults have tripled in the past three decades. Nearly two-thirds of young adults reported not having regular leisure-time physical activity.

"At that age, people tend to be healthy but take it for granted," said Dr. Jennifer Shu, CNNhealth's Living Well expert. "Diabetes and heart disease start at much earlier ages now. The obesity and cigarettes can impact how young you might be when you get a serious illness."

And when young adults get seriously ill, they can find themselves in a bind: A third of people ages 20 to 24 are uninsured. They are too old to qualify for their parents' insurance, looking for work or in a job that doesn't provide health insurance.

Washington, February 5, 2009 -- Religious leaders watched in a spirit of celebration Wednesday as President Obama signed legislation to expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

The program expansion, twice vetoed by former President George W. Bush, will cover nearly 11 million children who don't qualify for Medicaid and whose parents cannot afford private health insurance.

Wed Feb 4, 2009 4:33pm GMT

(Reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Maggie Fox and Howard Goller)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The withdrawal of President Barack Obama's choice to lead both the Department of Health and Human Services and a new White House Office on Health Reform could set back plans to revamp the U.S. healthcare system.

Two years ago, the International Parish Nurse Resource Center (IPNRC) received a grant from Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis to identify promising practices in congregational wellness programs and to explore options for helping churches support the holistic health and wellbeing of their communities. As part of this initiative, the International Parish Nurse Resource Center developed a wellness program entitled “Get My People GOING” based on the Exodus story, which has been used in congregations around the United States.  More information about this resource is available at www.parishnurses.org/IPNRCResources_170.aspx. 

 

Health Care Revolution Sunday™ is a special worship service which celebrates the power of prayer to help bring about a health care revolution of a different kind. This celebration is facilitated by the insertion into the congregation's usual order of worship the following features: a special prayer, a bulletin insert, songs or hymns, and perhaps a message from the pulpit – all highlighting the healing role of Christ.

Watch 6 minute video on www.churchclinic.org/hcrs_event_overview.php

Written by Barbara T. Baylor, MPH, Minister for Health Care Justice,  Justice and Witness Ministries, United Church of Christ