Community outreach: an expanding role for hospitals

Abstract

Pressures for paediatric institutions to expand their traditional roles have come from changes in morbidity patterns, training requirements and community needs. Planning for new models of health care delivery has led to the development of the Community Outreach Program (COP), a hospital-based model which utilizes existing community resources to provide early intervention services, training in community paediatrics and integration of hospital and community-based health care. A process evaluation of the COP was performed after 18 months operation. Eighty-eight children were seen in a 7 week period, 20% with complex problems requiring further assessment and community consultation. Staff at the community agencies serviced considered the COP to be a major contributor to health care in their areas. Medical trainees developed new assessment techniques and management strategies for children with problems not previously encountered. It appears that the COP is a useful model for the delivery of health care, in particular to disadvantaged communities.