WYES-TV Examines Improvements to Healthcare Access with Tonight’s Premier of Reshaping a Greater New Orleans: Creating Healthy Communities

The rebuilding of the region’s healthcare systems to expand healthcare access and improve outcomes is the focus of RESHAPING A GREATER NEW ORLEANS: CREATING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES premiering on WYES-TV Channel 12 on Thursday, November 17 at 7:00 p.m.

The recovery from Hurricane Katrina forced a prescription for change based on medical necessity. The latest installment in the award-winning RESHAPING A GREATER NEW ORLEANS shows the evolution from a Charity Hospital based safety net for underserved communities to a medical home model of robust preventive care throughout a sprawling system of neighborhood clinics. The program also addresses changes to the hospital landscape including public-private partnerships and consolidation and their impact on increasing healthcare access. The hour-long television program also discusses new opportunities and continuing challenges for behavioral health.

Louisiana Department of Health Secretary Dr. Rebekah Gee says healthcare in the state is in a better position than in a generation, citing the enrollment of more than 327,000 people into Medicaid since expansion enrollment began in the summer. “We have a long way to go, but we have made greater strides in the last few months that we have in the past few decades in terms of access to care and availability of care for individuals in our state,” said Dr. Gee.

RESHAPING A GREATER NEW ORLEANS: CREATING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES repeats Friday, November 18 at 10:00 p.m., Saturday, November 19 at 11:00 p.m. and Sunday, November 20 at Noon, 6:00 p.m., and 10:00 p.m. For additional program information, go to wyes.org.