Access to Health Care / Health Services

Access to Health Care / Health Services

Definition

• Ability to obtain needed, affordable, convenient, acceptable, and effective (NACAE) personal health services in a timely manner (Shi & Singh, 2008).

Key Implications (QEAE)

1. Quality of Care

   • Access linked to the quality of care provided.

2. Efficient Use of Services

   • Impacts the efficient use of needed services.

3. Assessment Benchmark

   • Serves as a significant benchmark for assessing the effectiveness of medical care delivery systems (Healthy People 2020).

4. Equity in Delivery

   • Determines whether health care delivery is equitable or not.