News/Press Release Archive
New Study Assesses Health Care Workforce Capacity in
April 3rd, 2008
According to a report released today by the Louisiana Public Health Institute, there were 1238 non-hospital based medical and behavioral health care delivery sites, and an estimated 1849 physician full time equivalents active in the greater New Orleans region as of the summer of 2007.
The report, Assessment of the Ambulatory Care Workforce in Greater New Orleans, describes the findings of a 2007 survey of health care facilities in Orleans, Jefferson, Plaquemines, and St. Bernard parishes. The survey used a systematic approach to identify and survey existing facilities, resulting in the most comprehensive and accurate identification of non-hospital based health care sites to date in metro New Orleans. With a response rate of over 70 percent, the results of the survey provide an accurate picture of the health care workforce capacity and the characteristics of service providers in the region as of last summer.
Our goal in releasing this report is to ensure that people have the most complete and accurate data available about the recovery of the regions healthcare delivery system, and help inform policy-makers at all levels as they make decisions about how to most effectively support our recovery, says Clayton Williams, health systems director of the Louisiana Public Health Institute and a lead author of the report.
Among the notable findings described in the report, almost two-thirds of the regions delivery sites are located in Jefferson Parish, while one-third are located in Orleans, and less than two percent are in Plaquemines and St. Bernard parishes. The report estimates that there were 702 primary care physician full time equivalents in the region and 127 psychiatrists at the time of the survey. The need for additional providers is evident as over one-third of survey respondents intend to hire medical staff within the next year.
The report also finds that 15 percent of the visits at health care sites were made by patients with Medicaid and 17 percent were made by patients with no form of health insurance. Understanding the insurance status of the regions patient population is critical to improving access to care, said Williams. Were particularly concerned with linking low income and uninsured patients to available services as one important thing we can do to help improve the health of our communities and reduce disparities in health outcomes.
The survey was conducted by the Louisiana Public Health Institute in collaboration with the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals and the Tulane University Health Sciences Center. Financial support for the survey was provided by Baptist Community Ministries, Hospital Corporation of America, Inc. and the Lloyd A. Fry Foundation. Download the full report
For more information about the Assessment of the Ambulatory Care Workforce in Greater New Orleans report, contact Clayton Williams at 504-301-9804.