SUNY Downstate Reports on Brooklyn Healthcare Resources

The SUNY Downstate Medical Center-led Brooklyn Healthcare Improvement Project (B-HIP) has released a report detailing the state of healthcare in Northern and Central Brooklyn. 

B-HIP, a coalition of Brooklyn hospitals, health centers, insurers, grass roots community organizations and government agencies, provided in its report a framework for regional healthcare planning. It also discussed challenges associated with providing care to inner-city populations with significant levels of high-needs patients.

While documenting that many emergency room (ER) visits are avoidable, the study also documents widespread, deeply ingrained patient preference for using ERs for care instead of private physicians. 

Key findings include that there is a shortage of quality, accessible primary care throughout much of the study area; there is a shortage of primary care that is accessible after hours, or at times convenient for working people, and that based on longitudinal analysis of insurance claims data, the majority of insured ER visitors have not seen any providers within weeks to months prior to or after presenting in the ER. 

The report was funded through a New York State Department of Health HEAL-NY grant issued in February 2009.