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Non-hospital construction
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In 1961 Congress got involved
in encouraging construction of facilities and development of
services outside the inpatient acute care hospital model of
healthcare delivery. Major grants were given to state
governments for:
- Construction of nursing homes
- Creation of general public health
services
- Planning for community health needs
- Designing programs for outpatient
services directed toward the aged and chronically ill
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Focus on mentally disabled and
mentally ill |
Later, in 1963, focus changed
to services for the mentally disabled and the mentally ill.
Dollars were allotted to build facilities for the mentally disabled
($126 million) and the mentally ill ($150 million).
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Dollars for nursing
schools
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The need for building more
nursing schools and expanding nursing programs surfaced as a major
issue in 1964. A total of $283 million was allotted for this
purpose. Government spent big dollars to enhance training of
these important healthcare providers. Today attracting women
and men to enter this profession is a major need to keep our
healthcare system strong. Patient safety issues and injuries
have been tied directly to insufficient numbers of nursing personnel
present to meet patient care demands. Many policymakers feel
we face a crisis situation in recruitment and maintenance of nursing
professionals.
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Funding for public health
services |
In 1965 Congress gave dollars
for a variety of public health programs. They funded a
national vaccination program and developed services for migratory
workers and their families. Much effort focused on research
into outpatient care and dollars were given to develop regional
partnerships addressing heart disease, cancer and stroke patient
care.
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Coordination on the local level
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In the next decade (1974),
legislative leaders determined that our country needed a national
network of health systems agencies to facilitate health services at
the local level. Now a community's local health system agency
approves or rejects proposed federal funding for health programs.
The passage of this legislation dramatically restructured the Hill
Burton Act. Throughout the years we see the impact of the
political pendulum swinging from national control of decision making
to state control to local control. Where is the pendulum
today? |
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