University of New England

UNE Center for Health Policy, Planning and Research helps Connecticut County identify most important healthcare issues

The University of New England’s new Center for Health Policy, Planning and Research (CHPPR) has been contracted to conduct a comprehensive community health needs assessment of New London County, Conn.

The assessment will include collecting population health data from multiple sources including a phone survey of some 1,300 randomly selected households. This is the first study of healthcare needs across New London County and is designed to help identify the county’s most important healthcare issues.

The Center for Health Policy, Planning and Research is part of UNE’s College of Osteopathic Medicine and conducts planning studies nationwide using its science-based planning program. A CHPPR team will work with the Community Health Access Management Program of Groton, Conn. and a Study Oversight Committee consisting of 17 partner organizations to conduct the study.

According to CHPPR’s Executive Director and Epidemiologist Ron Deprez, Ph.D., M.P.H., the three major objectives of the study are:

• to develop a comprehensive baseline profile of health status and utilization.
• to assess whether existing services are meeting the community’s health needs, while identifying duplications and gaps in services.
• to provide recommendations on how access and quality of care can be improved through partnerships among healthcare providers and the community through integration of the public health system.

Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun
Another objective, Deprez noted, is unique to the region: to measure increased demand in health services created by the influx of people who work for the two Native American casinos in the county – Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun.

“This study will enable health service providers to address the needs of their population with a rational planning process,” stated Deprez. “We also will try to measure the impact of the two casinos on the local health system. They are concerned about the rapid growth in medical care needed by casino workers, their families and gamblers, who often lack health insurance.”

Survey Questions
Questions the survey team will ask county residents will include whether they have diabetes, arthritis or lung disease; whether they have insurance, what kind, and if they have a hard time paying for certain types of needed healthcare; and health risk factors, ranging from weight to smoking and drinking habits to emergency preparedness. New London County has a population of approximately 270,000.

The final report, scheduled for release in early 2007, will enable healthcare providers to understand county health issues, solicit grant funds and tailor their services to better meet specific needs pinpointed by the study.

Dr. Deprez, quoted in a Connecticut newspaper, said, “These studies are expensive, but you’ll get your money back more than 10 times easily. You’ll bring money into the system through grants and third-party payments.”

CHPPR is a multi-functional educational, consulting and research office within UNE’s medical school. In addition to providing research services to the University, CHPPR provides planning and research services to government, healthcare providers, associations and foundations throughout New England, the U.S. and the world.

For more information about the Center, visit its website at www.une.edu/com/chppr.

(Press release issued Sept. 14, 2006)