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Special Needs Populations

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Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in Vulnerable Populations

June is National PTSD Awareness Month and June 27th is PTSD Awareness Day, providing an opportunity to recognize the challenges faced by survivors of trauma who live with PTSD symptoms. RAND research is helping increase awareness about the disorder and inform policy about how to prevent and address it.

Jun 26, 2012
Report

How Americans Will Live and Work in 2020: A Workshop Exploring Key Trends and Philanthropic Responses

These proceedings summarize the discussion at a July 2011 workshop convened to examine how trends in four areas -- the economy, demographics, the workplace, and lifestyles -- will affect the poor and vulnerable in America in the coming decade.

Jan 16, 2012
Journal Article

The Unusually Poor Physical Health Status of Cambodian Refugees Two Decades After Resettlement

In interviews conducted for this study, Cambodian refugees reported exceedingly poor health when compared to the general population of Asian immigrants.

Sep 28, 2010
Journal Article

Using a Community Partnered Participatory Research Approach to Implement a Randomized Controlled Trial: Planning Community Partners in Care

Community-based participatory research promotes community engagement in improving depression care.

Jul 31, 2010
Report

Navigating the Road to Recovery: Assessment of the Coordination, Communication, and Financing of the Disaster Case Management Pilot in Louisiana

Researchers assessing a disaster case management pilot recommend that future efforts establish better ways to find affected residents, consider needs/vulnerabilities in planning, and ensure continuity of services before, during, and after disaster.

Jun 11, 2010
Research Brief

Improving the Quality of Care for Dementia

Results of a pilot program in RAND Health's Assessing Care of Vulnerable Elders-2 project indicate that quality indicators for dementia care are improved when primary care practices are coupled with links to local Alzheimer's Association chapters.

May 11, 2010
Journal Article

Performance-Based Payments for Primary Care Providers May Worsen Disparities in Medical Care

Rewarding primary care physicians for providing better care to patients could end up widening medical disparities experienced by poorer people and by minorities. Increasing the number of primary care physicians is also not enough to boost U.S. health care quality and lower costs.

Apr 30, 2010
Journal Article

Assessing Care of Vulnerable Elders--Alzheimer's Disease: A Pilot Study of a Practice Redesign Intervention to Improve the Quality of Dementia Care

This pilot study suggests that a practice-based intervention can increase referral to Alzheimer's Association chapters and improve quality of dementia care.

Jan 31, 2010
Journal Article

Medical Home Capabilities of Primary Care Practices That Serve Sociodemographically Vulnerable Neighborhoods

Primary care practices in sociodemographically vulnerable neighborhoods were more likely than other practices to have medical home capabilities (e.g., interpreters, multilingual physicians), making them potentially eligible for enhanced payments

Dec 31, 2009
Journal Article

Rapid Community Participatory Assessment of Health Care in Post-Storm New Orleans

Community members emphasized healthcare access challenges; unmet needs of specific vulnerable populations; and opportunities, resources, and community adaptations to improve healthcare access.

Nov 30, 2009
Journal Article

Recent Trends in State Children's Health Insurance Program Eligibility and Coverage for CSHCN

This study found that a dramatic increase between 2001 and 2005 in the number of uninsured children with special health care needs who were eligible for SCHIP.

Nov 30, 2009
Tool

Enhancing Public Health Emergency Preparedness for Special Needs Populations: A Toolkit for State and Local Planning and Response

Presents a toolkit and a Web-based Geographic Information Systems tool meant to help state and local public health agencies improve their emergency preparedness activities for special needs populations.

Sep 8, 2009
Dissertation

Preserving Health among Vulnerable Populations: Three Essays

This dissertation consists of three stand-alone essays that focus on the economics of preserving health among vulnerable population, specifically chronic ill and elderly population.

Jun 23, 2009
Journal Article

Terrorism-Related Fear and Avoidance Behavior in a Multiethnic Urban Population

Describes results of a survey that investigates whether groups traditionally most vulnerable to disasters would be more likely than others to perceive population-level risk as high, worry more about terrorism, and avoid activities because of terrorism concerns.

Dec 31, 2008
Journal Article

Falling Short: Continued Challenges in Meeting the Mental Health Needs of Children with Special Health Care Needs

High levels of unmet need persist for children with special health care needs in the face of substantial resources that have been committed to improving their care, including the integration of behavioral health into Medicaid managed care.

May 31, 2008
Journal Article

Language and Regional Differences in Evaluations of Medicare Managed Care by Hispanics

Uses the Consumer Assessments of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey to examine the experiences of Hispanics enrolled in Medicare managed care. Hispanics face barriers to care; however, their experiences with care vary by language and region.

Mar 31, 2008
Journal Article

Access to Care for Youth with Special Health Care Needs in the Transition to Adulthood

Insurance gaps and delayed care are prevalent for low-income young adults who aged out of a public program for children with special health care needs, despite ongoing health problems. Greater transition support might improve access.

Dec 31, 2007
Journal Article

Options to Improve Health Care Access and Quality for Immigrants

Expanding opportunities for immigrants to obtain legal residency and citizenship may be the best option to offer them better access to health care. Factors that affect their access to health care include: socioeconomic background, immigration status, limited English proficiency, and more.

Sep 14, 2007
Journal Article

The Effects of Health Sector Market Factors and Vulnerable Group Membership on Access to Alcohol, Drug, and Mental Health Care

Uses Andersen's Behavioral Model to see if health sector market conditions affect vulnerable subgroups' use of ADM differently than general population

May 31, 2007
Journal Article

A Community-Based Participatory Assessment of Health Care Needs in Post-Katrina New Orleans: An Update for Community Members and Advocates

The Rapid Evaluation and Action for Community Health in Louisiana (REACH-LA) Phase I project used community-based participatory methods to engage community members in the design, conduct, and interpretation of the results. This brief report describes the findings from the Community Discussion Groups, which affords the most direct insight into grassroots community perspectives on healthcare needs in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

Apr 30, 2007

RAND Topic:
Special Needs Populations

Topic Synonyms:
Vulnerable Populations

Research conducted by