Today, having to navigate a health-care system that is disorganized, confusing, and increasingly unaffordable frustrates growing numbers of Oklahomans. <\/p>\n
Oklahoma has 624,000 individuals who are uninsured and are without adequate health-care coverage. Approximately 40 percent or 230,843 individuals of the state's uninsured reside in northeastern Oklahoma, according to 2010 Census data. <\/p>\n
Certain parts of northeastern Oklahoma and the surrounding area are considered to be medically underserved areas. That is, on a patient-to-doctor ratio, the area does not have access to physicians and health-care services in proportion to the number of residents in the area. <\/p>\n
In partnership with federal, state and local authorities and private foundations, Morton Comprehensive Health Services has been providing quality health-care delivery and services to the area for more than 90 years. <\/p>\n
What is missing from the health-care debate is the growing body of evidence that shows we can address all of these problems by expanding access for more people to a patient-centered, primary-care medical home. <\/p>\n
Studies show when illnesses like diabetes, hypertension, asthma and depression are not appropriately managed - or prevented in the first place - they account for a significant portion of the skyrocketing costs for families and the entire health-care system. <\/p>\n
In a primary-care medical home, doctors, nurses and other providers work closely as a team with patients to prevent - or manage - costly chronic diseases. <\/p>\n
America's community health centers, like Morton, have been leaders in showing the value of this approach as an effective way to address more needs, improve health and contain costs. <\/p>\n
The unique health center model allows us to save the entire health system, including the government and taxpayers, approximately $24 billion annually by keeping patients out of costlier health-care settings, such as emergency rooms. In these tough economic times, health centers are small businesses that serve as economic engines in their communities. <\/p>\n
According to the National Association of Community Health Centers, health centers generated $20 billion in combined economic impact in 2009 and were responsible for nearly 200,000 jobs in areas hit hardest by the recession. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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