Access to Health Services

Goal

Improve access to comprehensive, quality health care services.


Overview

Access to comprehensive, quality health care services is important for the achievement of health equity and for increasing the quality of a healthy life for everyone. This topic area focuses on four components of access to care: coverage, services, timeliness, and workforce.

Why is Access to Health Services Important?

Access to health services means the timely use of personal health services to achieve the best health outcomes.1 It requires 3 distinct steps:

  1. Gaining entry into the health care system.
  2. Accessing a health care location where needed services are provided.
  3. Finding a health care provider with whom the patient can communicate and trust.2

Access to health care impacts:

  • Overall physical, social, and mental health status
  • Prevention of disease and disability
  • Detection and treatment of health conditions
  • Quality of life
  • Preventable death
  • Life expectancy

Disparities in access to health services affect individuals and society. Limited access to health care impacts people's ability to reach their full potential, negatively affecting their quality of life. Barriers to services include:

  • Lack of availability
  • High cost
  • Lack of insurance coverage

These barriers to accessing health services lead to:

  • Unmet health needs
  • Delays in receiving appropriate care
  • Inability to get preventive services
  • Hospitalizations that could have been prevented3

Additional Resources

HP2020's National Objectives for Access to Health Care
HHDW Reports on Access to Health Care

References

  1. Institute of Medicine, Committee on Monitoring Access to Personal Health Care Services. Access to health care in America. Millman M, editor. Washington: National Academies Press; 1993.
  2. Bierman A, Magari ES, Jette AM, et al. Assessing access as a first step toward improving the quality of care for very old adults. J Ambul Care Manage. 1998 Jul;121(3):17-26.
  3. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). National healthcare disparities report 2008. Chapter 3, Access to healthcare. Washington: AHRQ; 2008. Available from: http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/nhdr08/Chap3.htm

 

Objectives

Download all Access to Health Services Objectives

ID
Objectives and sub-objectives
AHS-1
Increase the proportion of persons with health insurance
AHS-1.1
AHS-3 Increase the proportion of persons with a usual primary care provider The Leading Health Indicators (LHI) were developed as part of the Healthy People 2010 initiative. LHI were selected to reflect the major public health concerns in the United States. Ten indicators were chosen based upon their ability to motivate action, the availability of data to measure their progress and their relevance as broad public health issues.
AHS-5 Increase the proportion of persons who have a specific source of ongoing care
AHS-5.2 Children and youth aged 17 years and under