Primary Care Access Network (PCAN)

In 1999, after Orange County Health Department closed Princeton Hospital, a facility that served patients from underserved and less affluent areas, Orange County, FL faced a major healthcare dilemma. The area was experiencing rapid growth, especially in tourism-related jobs, which pushed the number of uninsured to 175,000. Other local hospitals experienced a surge in their emergency departments as people turned to their EDs for primary care.

In response, the Primary Care Access Network (PCAN) was formed, a collaboration of community organizations, the county and three local hospitals--Health Central in Ocoee, Florida Hospital in Winter Park and Orlando Regional Healthcare in Orlando. PCAN's reach is very broad as its services include inpatient care, outpatient care, including pediatrics, family planning, maternity care, dental care, short-term recuperative care after hospitalization, behavioral care, and mental-health counseling. Overall, PCAN has been shown to be self-sustaining, with partners providing not only in-kind services but financial support as well.

Results

• More than 50,000 uninsured patients have established contact with a primary care doctor since April 2001.
• The shift in care from the ED to primary care clinics decreased the cost of care from $3,000 to $1,000 per patient, according to the network.

***For further information, please visit, http://www.pcanorangecounty.com.

Published: January 26, 2009